Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (C) and other delegates at the ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the first direct flight between Việt Nam and South Korea in Seoul. — VNA/VNS Photo

SEOUL — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính attended a ceremony in Seoul on Wednesday marking 30 years since Việt Nam Airlines launched its first direct flight between Việt Nam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) and welcoming the 15 millionth passenger on this route, within the framework of his official visit to the East Asian country.

The first direct air route, linking HCM City of Việt Nam to the RoK's Seoul capital city, served as an important bridge promoting socio-economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

At present, the national flag carrier is operating six direct flights: Hà Nội/Hồ Chí Minh City - Seoul; Hà Nội/Hồ Chí Minh City - Busan; Đà Nẵng - Seoul; and Cam Ranh - Seoul, with an average frequency of up to 112 flights per week.

Vietnam Airlines is also the first and only airline in Việt Nam operating modern wide-body aircraft Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 on the routes between Việt Nam and the RoK. Over the past three decades, it has conducted a total of 65,000 flights, transporting 15 million passengers and more than 291,000 tonnes of goods between the two countries.

Speaking at the event, PM Chính stressed that currently, the RoK holds the No. 1 position in direct investment, No. 2 in development cooperation and tourism, and No. 3 in labour and trade cooperation with Việt Nam.

There are nearly 300,000 Vietnamese people working, studying and living in the RoK, and around 200,000 Koreans working and living in the Southeast Asian country, the PM said.

He requested the aviation sector in general and Việt Nam Airlines in particular to seek ways to improve service quality and reduce ticket prices, given the fact that increasing travel demand is resulting in a rise in competitiveness.

At the ceremony, Việt Nam Airlines and the Korean national flag carrier Korean Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in improving aviation services in the two countries. The Vietnamese airline also presented gifts to its 15 millionth passenger on the Việt Nam-RoK route. — VNS