Hong Kong-based budget carrier HK Express is to introduce its first flights to the Vietnamese Riviera with the launch of a three times weekly link between its base at Hong Kong International Airport and Đà Nẵng International Airport is located in Đà Nẵng, the largest city in central Vietnam.

The route to the vibrant South-Central Coast of Vietnam will commence from April 1, 2015 and will be operated on a three times weekly basis with flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This will be the only low-cost link between Hong Kong and Đà Nẵng which is becoming increasingly popular as an alternate leisure destination for travellers.

“The spectacular Vietnamese South-Central Coast is an undiscovered gem on our doorstep,” said Luke Lovegrove, commercial director, HK Express. “We are delighted to be the only low-fare airline offering our guests the chance to explore this unspoiled paradise.”

As a gateway to central Vietnam, Đà Nẵng is an ideal base for a short-break or a longer Vietnam tour. The city is the third biggest economic centre in Vietnam (after Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi) and offers affordable luxury hotels, lavish spas and gourmet dining together with the joys of Vietnamese café culture, lively street music and glorious surfing beaches which enable visitors to enjoy the destination against a backdrop of stunning local landscapes, culture and attractions.

For this looking to explore more of Vietnam, Đà Nẵng is the perfect gateway for the charming resort town of Hoi An, famed for its leather workshops and tailor-made shoes, which is just 30 minutes by road from the city, while the nearby Marble Mounta cave complex is a popular visitor location.

Over the past year HK Express has embarked on a growth strategy following its reinvention has Hong Kong’s first low-fare carrier. With the addition of this Đà Nẵng route, HK Express has expanded its international network to 16 destinations and has already outlined a commitment to open more routes in the near future.

HK Express will end the monopoly of Dragonair, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific Airways, in the Hong Kong - Đà Nẵng market. Dragonair launched its own flights on the route in March 2013 and currently operates an up to daily schedule using an Airbus A320: weekly flights will operate from March 2015 with a larger A321, further boosting capacity between the two cities.

Analysis of segment demand and flight schedules suggests Dragonair has generated average loads of 69.9 per cent (Đà Nẵng – Hong Kong) and 67.1 per cent (Hong Kong - Đà Nẵng) since launching the flight.

In the chart, below, we look at estimated bi-directional O&D demand between Hong Kong and Đà Nẵng over the past two years.