HCMC – Vietnam and Switzerland on April 4 inked an agreement on air services, preparing for the launch of direct flights between the two countries late this year.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the deal will provide a legal framework for Vietnamese and Swiss airlines to offer air services. Terms in the deal are basically similar to those in the ICAO Template Air Services Agreements and air transport agreements Vietnam signed with the UAE, Turkey and Spain in the past.

At the signing ceremony, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The said two-way trade between the two countries has reached some US$2 billion. The deal will open up cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and Switzerland, particularly in air transport, he added.

Doris Leuthard, a member of the Swiss Federal Council, said the agreement signing not only facilitates direct flights between Vietnam and Switzerland but also helps promote tourism and trade between the two countries.

According to Doris Leuthard, who is also head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, there will be two direct weekly flights connecting Switzerland and Vietnam per week as from November. Together with the air transport agreement, the free trade agreement the two countries are negotiating is also expected to boost bilateral economic cooperation.

Switzerland’s Edelweiss Air last year announced a direct air route linking Zurich and HCMC with two weekly flights, facilitating travel from Switzerland and European countries to Vietnam.

The Swiss carrier plans to transport some 10,500 passengers to HCMC every year on Airbus A340-300 and generate revenue of over US$32 million.

At the signing ceremony, Transport Minister Nguyen Van The also spoke of transport infrastructure development plans in Vietnam. He said that Vietnam has been investing in important transport infrastructure projects such as expressways, urban railways and Long Thanh airport as well as upgrading and expanding existing international airports. Besides, Vietnam has big seaports like Cai Mep-Thi Vai and Haiphong.