VIETNAM AIRLINES OPENS THREE MORE INTNL AIR ROUTES IN 2002.

HANOI, July 1 Asia Pulse - Since the early part of this year, Vietnam Airlines has opened three more direct international air routes linking Ho Chi Minh City to Tokyo, Hanoi to Tokyo, and Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi to Moscow.

Vietnam Airlines' new Hanoi-Tokyo route was officially inaugurated at the Noi Bai International Airport on June 29.

Initially, Vietnam Airlines will operate two flights a week (Tuesday and Saturday), using Boeing 767B's, the airlines said, adding that this is the second direct link between Vietnam and Japan after the first between Ho Chi Minh City and Tokyo opened in late April.

In addition, Japan Airlines (JAL) will fly twice a week on every Monday and Friday on the Hanoi-Tokyo route. These four flights will be jointly conducted by the two airlines through their code-sharing contract.

The number of visitors coming to Vietnam from Japan has increased by about 30 per cent ...