Akasa Air launches direct Mumbai-Hanoi service, widening travel options between India and Vietnam

Akasa Air launched nonstop service between Mumbai and Hanoi on September 4, 2026, marking the Indian carrier’s first entry into Vietnam. The route operates four times a week, making Hanoi Akasa Air’s seventh international destination and its second in Southeast Asia after Phuket.

The inaugural QP625 service departed Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 5:35 a.m. and arrived at Noi Bai International Airport at noon local time. The return QP626 left Hanoi at 1:30 p.m. Akasa Air is using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on the route, with a scheduled flight time of about five hours.

For passengers, the new service adds direct seat capacity on one of the most important city pairs linking the two countries. It also offers a simpler alternative to itineraries that previously required a connection through another Asian hub, a particular advantage for short-stay leisure travelers and business passengers.

The launch comes as Vietnam is seeing rapid growth from the Indian market. More than 612,000 Indian visitors arrived in Vietnam during the first eight months of 2026, far above the roughly 102,000 Indian visitors recorded for all of 2019. Expanding nonstop links from New Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang have been a major driver of that growth.

Noi Bai’s international network is also becoming more diverse. The airport says it now serves 72 airlines connecting Hanoi with more than 90 domestic and international destinations. The arrival of another operator on the India-Vietnam market should increase competition across fares, schedules and service options.

Mumbai is India’s leading financial and commercial center, while Hanoi is Vietnam’s political capital and a major economic and cultural gateway. A nonstop link between the two cities is therefore positioned to support not only tourism but also corporate travel, investment, conferences and wider people-to-people exchange.

At roughly five hours in the air, the direct flight can significantly reduce total journey time compared with connecting itineraries. That makes it especially practical for families, weekend travelers and corporate passengers who value predictable schedules.

The September 4 launch is another sign that air connectivity between Vietnam and India remains on an expansion track. As two-way demand continues to grow, travelers can expect a broader mix of routes, frequencies and fare choices across upcoming peak travel periods.