VietJet plans to open two routes to Cebu in November, expanding its Philippines network as demand between Vietnam and the archipelago continues to grow.
The airline will begin 3X-weekly services from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Cebu on Nov. 10. Both routes will be operated using Airbus A321 aircraft. The low-cost carrier had previously indicated a Ho Chi Minh City-Cebu service would launch in December with five roundtrips per week.
OAG Schedules Analyser data shows that VietJet will compete with Vietnam Airlines on Hanoi-Cebu, while Cebu Pacific also operates between Cebu and Ho Chi Minh City.
The additions will expand VietJet’s Philippines network from one route to three. The airline entered the market in late 2025 with service between Ho Chi Minh City and Manila, a route that offers about 67,700 two-way seats during the summer 2026 season.
VietJet said in June that Cebu’s role as an economic, tourism and aviation hub made the city an attractive addition to its network. The carrier also highlighted the potential to connect Philippine passengers through Ho Chi Minh City to destinations in Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and other international markets.
Analysis of Sabre Market Intelligence data points to growing opportunities beyond Manila. Approximately 1.06 million two-way O&D passengers traveled between Vietnam and the Philippines in 2025, an increase of 41.1% from about 750,000 in 2024.
Manila remained the main Philippine destination, accounting for about 799,000 passengers. However, traffic to Cebu grew at about 189% to approximately 87,500 passengers.
The Ho Chi Minh City-Cebu market generated almost 56,000 two-way passengers in 2025, up 287% from about 14,500 a year earlier. Hanoi-Cebu traffic increased by 79% to approximately 23,600 passengers. The figures include passengers traveling both nonstop and through connecting airports.
Across the wider market, Hanoi-Manila was the largest Vietnam-Philippines city pair in 2025, carrying approximately 321,000 passengers, an increase of 38.6%. Ho Chi Minh City-Manila handled about 294,000 passengers, up 3.8%, while Da Nang-Manila traffic almost doubled to more than 153,000.
Nonstop scheduled capacity has expanded in response to that growth. OAG data shows airlines are offering approximately 1.05 million two-way seats between Vietnam and the Philippines during summer 2026, up 30.9% from about 804,000 in summer 2025.
The Philippines expansion comes as VietJet reported revenue and passenger growth during the first half of 2026. Consolidated revenue rose 44% year over year to VND51.536 trillion ($1.96 billion), while consolidated after-tax profit reached VND1.372 trillion.
For the first six months of the year, the airline operated 72,000 flights and transported more than 13.4 million passengers. Cargo volume totaled nearly 41,000 metric tons.
VietJet says its network now comprises 213 routes, including 167 international services. During the first half, the carrier announced new links connecting Vietnam with China, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic. The airline also has reportedly taken the initial regulatory steps toward establishing a carrier in Australia to take on the powerful incumbents on domestic routes.
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