Emirates will add a second daily Airbus A350 service to Ho Chi Minh City from November 1 and start flying the A350 to Hanoi from December 1, the airline said on Wednesday.

The extra Ho Chi Minh City flight will operate as EK364/365 between Dubai and the Vietnamese city. From December 1, the A350 will also fly Emirates’ two daily Dubai-Hanoi services, EK394/395 and EK388/389. The airline said all four of its daily flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will then be operated by the A350, its newest aircraft type.

The change also brings Emirates’ Premium Economy cabin to Hanoi for the first time, according to the release.

Wahid Albalooshi, Emirates’ Country Manager for Vietnam, said “Vietnam continues to be an important market for Emirates”. He said the changes build on the airline’s investment in the country, including the launch of flights to Da Nang last year, which expanded its presence to three major gateways. He added that deploying its best products on these routes would give travellers a more consistent experience, both to Dubai and to other cities served by the A350.

Emirates said the A350 seats 298 passengers in three cabins. Business Class has a 1-2-1 layout with fully lie-flat seats and direct aisle access. Premium Economy seats have leather upholstery, in-seat charging and a 13.3-inch screen, and Economy seats have a 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen, the airline said.

Tickets are on sale through emirates.com, the Emirates app and travel agents.

Emirates also noted that Vietnamese travellers may be eligible for a UAE visa on arrival if they hold a valid residence permit issued by countries including the US, UK, an EU member state, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan or South Korea. Holders of valid visit or tourist visas from the US, UK or Schengen countries, and US Green Card holders, may also qualify, subject to conditions.

Source: PR