VietJet is preparing to make its long-awaited move into the European market with plans to launch flights linking Hanoi and Prague via Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan’s Transport Ministry confirmed that the Vietnamese LCC plans to launch a Hanoi-Almaty-Prague service from July 11, operating twice a week using Airbus A330 aircraft. The flights would operate under Kazakhstan’s open skies regime and utilize fifth-freedom rights on the Almaty-Prague sector, allowing the airline to carry passengers solely between Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic as well as on the full Hanoi-Prague routing.
“The Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan is constantly working on opening new routes and increasing the number of flights on existing air routes,” the ministry said in a statement. “The addition of flights will contribute to the development of tourist, business and humanitarian ties, as well as strengthening Kazakhstan's cooperation with Vietnam and the Czech Republic.”
Prague Vaclav Havel Airport (PRG) has been actively pursuing a Vietnam route for several years, driven largely by VFR demand. People of Vietnamese origin in the Czech Republic represent the country’s largest Asian ethnic group, numbering more than 38,000 according to a 2021 census.
“The introduction of a direct air connection between Hanoi and Prague is, given the strong demand driven by the significant Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, among Prague Airport’s route development priorities,” Jaroslav Filip, director of aviation business at PRG, told Aviation Week. “Prague Airport is therefore actively engaged in discussions regarding the potential launch of this route.”
Traffic data suggests there is a solid base of demand. Sabre Market Intelligence data shows that O&D traffic between the Czech Republic and Vietnam totaled approximately 89,300 two-way passengers in 2025. Prague-Hanoi accounted for around 72% of total traffic, with Doha, Dubai and Istanbul the largest connecting markets.
The planned service comes as VietJet accelerates its long-haul expansion strategy while deepening its involvement in Kazakhstan’s aviation sector through joint venture airline VietJet Qazaqstan, established in partnership with Qazaq Air and investors linked to Sovico Group, VietJet’s parent company.
VietJet Qazaqstan currently operates a fleet of five Bombardier DHC-8-400 turboprops on domestic routes and select international services to Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. However, the longer-term strategy is for the airline to transition to a fleet of up to 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, enabling broader expansion across Central Asia and additional international markets.
Almaty is well positioned geographically for such operations, sitting roughly midway between Southeast Asia and Central Europe. Using Kazakhstan as an intermediate stop allows Vietjet to serve Europe without immediately committing to long-haul nonstop flights, while also enabling it to sell additional tickets on the Almaty-Prague sector using fifth-freedom rights.
However, VietJet’s wider long-haul ambitions are supported by a fleet expansion program. The airline placed an order for 20 A330neos in 2025, lifting its orders for this model to 40. The first A330neo delivery is expected in mid-2026, with the aircraft able to offer greater range and improved economics compared with its current A330-300 fleet. The A330neo could therefore enable nonstop flights from Vietnam to Western Europe, including potential routes to London or Paris, both of which VietJet has previously identified as possible future destinations.
Vietnam Airlines currently dominates Vietnam-Europe capacity excluding Russia, with a 58% market share. It offers routes linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to major European hubs including London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Munich, Milan Malpensa and Copenhagen.
However, Prague remains unserved from Vietnam, and Prague-Almaty is also currently unserved, meaning VietJet would face no direct competition on either sector of the planned route.
Although VietJet does not currently operate scheduled European routes, the carrier has tested long-haul and Central Asian markets through charter operations to Russia and Kazakhstan. In summer 2025, the airline operated charter flights linking Nha Trang with Vladivostok, Khabarovsk and Blagoveshchensk in Russia’s Far East, and additional charter flights from Da Nang are planned for summer 2026. VietJet has also previously operated charter services to Almaty and Astana. The LCC has been approached for comment on the planned Prague route.
Related Content
