Air France suspends direct flights to Vietnam

Air France will suspend direct flights from Paris to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for six months to concentrate on more lucrative Chinese and Japanese routes, a company official said recently.

The airline will suspend its code-share contract with Vietnam Airlines for non-stop flights between France and Vietnam between March 26 and Oct. 10, said Truong Thi Hoang Thuy, Air France customer service and communications manager.

In April 2004, Air France implemented a code-share agreement with national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines to become the first Western carrier to operate non-stop flights to the two Vietnamese cities.

From March 26, Air France will operate four flights a week linking HCM City and three linking Hanoi to Paris, with stopovers in Bangkok.

Vietnam Airlines, which began direct flights to Paris from Hanoi and HCM City in 2003, will maintain its seven connections a week, enjoying an advantage on the direct link.