Hanoi:Turkish Airlines has reached an impressive average load factor of 92% on its flights to Vietnam, a significant hub for manufacturing, trade, and tourism in Southeast Asia, as stated by a company official.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Turkish Airlines Hanoi Manager Dincer Sayici highlighted Vietnam as one of the airline's strategic markets in the region. The airline reported a 30% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers on Vietnam routes in 2025 and anticipates an 11% growth by the end of 2026.

Sayici noted that the airline's robust connections through Istanbul Airport and increased flight frequencies are expected to sustain this growth. He further mentioned that 92% of the passengers on Vietnam routes are transit passengers connecting through Istanbul. The airline currently operates 20 weekly flights to Vietnam, with ten flights each to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and plans to increase these frequencies in early 2027.

A memorandum signed on August 6, 2026, between the civil aviation authorities of Turkey and Vietnam, allows for up to 42 weekly passenger frequencies on the Istanbul-Hanoi and Istanbul-Ho Chi Minh City routes. Turkish Airlines, known for flying to more countries than any other airline, began scheduled flights to Ho Chi Minh City in 2010 and to Hanoi in 2016, using Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft for nonstop flights from Istanbul.

The airline has witnessed a 56% increase in passenger demand from Turkey to Vietnam in the first nine months of 2026, with growing interest in destinations such as Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Ninh Binh. To boost inbound tourism to Turkey, Turkish Airlines collaborates with travel agencies to promote destinations like Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Pamukkale. The introduction of electronic visa eligibility for Vietnamese citizens in September 2025 has also positively impacted tourism figures.

On the air freight front, Turkish Cargo transported around 53,000 tons of cargo between Istanbul and Vietnam in 2025, with a target of 60,000 tons by the end of 2026. The primary cargo includes electronics, industrial goods, machinery, and textiles, supporting bilateral trade. Sayici emphasized the airline's goal to meet rising passenger demand and enhance commercial and cultural ties between Turkey and Vietnam.

Vietnam, with a population exceeding 100 million, has emerged as a global supply chain hub, particularly in electronics, textiles, apparel, and footwear, following its economic reforms initiated in 1986.