VietJet to offer international flights from Western Sydney

VietJet, the Vietnam-based low-cost carrier, is set to expand its operations into Australia by launching international flights from Western Sydney International Airport. An announcement confirming the service is expected as early as Monday, August 10, 2026, with initial flights scheduled to operate between Western Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City starting in January 2027. The move marks a significant step in the airline's strategy to increase connectivity between Vietnam and Australia, particularly targeting the growing demand for travel between the two nations. Industry insiders suggest that the partnership between VietJet and Western Sydney Airport aims to address the increasing interest in travel to Asia among residents of Western Sydney, a region home to substantial Vietnamese communities. Suburbs such as Cabramatta, Canley Vale, and Canley Heights have long been hubs for Vietnamese culture and heritage, making the introduction of direct flights from Western Sydney a strategic choice. The airport has already secured commitments from Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and Jetstar to operate international services, with launches planned for October and November 2026. According to sources familiar with the deal, VietJet is planning to introduce two weekly return flights between Western Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City beginning in January 2027, with the frequency increasing to three weekly return flights by March 2027. The airline has also expressed potential interest in launching domestic services within Australia, which could further challenge the dominance of established carriers such as Qantas Group and Virgin. This development comes amid Vietnam’s President To Lam’s state visit to Australia and New Zealand, highlighting the strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two regions. VietJet has already submitted applications for take-off and landing slots at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, indicating its broader ambitions beyond Western Sydney. However, industry experts note that even if the airline proceeds with routes connecting Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, it will still require several months before its first flights can commence. The airline currently operates daily return flights to Ho Chi Minh City from both Sydney and Melbourne, providing seven weekly services for each city. Additionally, it offers five weekly return flights between Brisbane and Ho Chi Minh City, along with three weekly flights between Perth and Ho Chi Minh City. Based in Hanoi, VietJet maintains a fleet of 107 aircraft, primarily stationed in Vietnamese cities including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, and Hai Phong. The airline has ordered 100 Airbus A321neos and 20 Airbus A330neos, with plans to acquire more than 600 Airbus and Boeing aircraft over the next decade. It also intends to lease 10 Chinese COMAC-made C909s, reflecting its commitment to diversifying its fleet and enhancing operational capabilities. In June 2025, VietJet’s chairwoman, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, emphasized the company’s vision to establish Vietnam as a regional aviation hub, encompassing passenger transportation, technical services, logistics, training, research, global supply chains, and aviation infrastructure. Australians have shown renewed interest in visiting Vietnam, with flight capacity between the two countries reaching 263 percent of pre-pandemic levels in April 2025, according to data from Corporate Traveller, a division of Flight Centre Travel Group. This surge in travel activity underscores the importance of enhanced air connectivity between the two nations, especially as tourism continues to recover post-pandemic. VietJet’s proposed route from Western Sydney is expected to contribute significantly to this trend, offering locals in Western Sydney a convenient option for travel to one of Australia’s fastest-growing destinations.