Vietnam Airlines expands premium economy class across all domestic flights

This move builds on Vietnam Airlines' previous offerings. Since July 2019, the airline has provided premium economy tickets between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi on Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s. Initially priced at VND 500,000 ($20) above the Economy Flex fare, these tickets offer a balance between comfort and cost. Current fleet data shows that Airbus A350-900s feature 36 seats in a 2-4-2 layout for premium economy, while Boeing 787-9s have a configuration of 35 seats in a 2-3-2 arrangement.

Vietnam Airlines describes its premium economy as delivering a business-class experience minus the seat difference. Perks include "Lotus Lounge access," welcome drinks, hot towels, hot meals, an expanded drink selection, and an upgraded entertainment system.

Vietnam's domestic aviation market is extensive due to its population exceeding 100 million residents. The country's domestic network extends beyond Vietnam Airlines' main hubs at Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Cirium's scheduling data for this month, Vietnam has scheduled over 19,000 domestic flights offering approximately 3.7 million seats. These services are shared among four carriers: Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines.

As the national flag carrier with more than half of the scheduled flight capacity this month (10,007 flights), Vietnam Airlines will provide nearly half of the total seats (1.9 million) available domestically. Among popular routes are Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi with 970 flights monthly and other key corridors such as Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang with 576 flights and Hanoi - Da Nang with 333 flights.