Vietnam Airlines Deploys A350 and 787 to Mumbai, Upgrades 2025

(MUMBAI) Vietnam Airlines has begun flying its Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the Mumbai routes to Vietnam, upgrading the Mumbai–Hanoi and Mumbai–Ho Chi Minh City services in 2025. The shift to wide-body jets brings more seats, quieter cabins, and a higher standard of premium service for Indian travelers.

The carrier says the move reflects rising demand between India and Vietnam for business and leisure trips. With the larger aircraft scheduled from Mumbai, passengers gain better comfort, a smoother experience, and added reliability during busy travel periods, while the airline strengthens its position in one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets.

Schedule and Network Summary

• Mumbai–Ho Chi Minh City: daily, operated with A350 and 787
• Mumbai–Hanoi: four times per week, operated with A350 and 787
• Delhi routes (continuing from 2024): four weekly Hanoi–Delhi rotations and three weekly Ho Chi Minh City–Delhi rotations
• Combined from Delhi and Mumbai: 14 weekly flights
• New direct services announced for Bengaluru and Hyderabad starting May 2025

These schedules create a clearer, more consistent pattern across India’s major gateways and extend reach into southern India from May 2025.

Passenger Experience: What Changes with Wide-Bodies

Wide-body aircraft change the travel experience on these routes in several tangible ways:

• Improved cabin environment:
  • Newer cabin air systems, quieter engines, and better humidity to reduce fatigue on medium-haul flights.
• Business Class enhancements:
  • Full-flat beds
  • Curated Indian meals
  • Personalized in-flight entertainment
• Economy improvements:
  • Better seat design, larger screens, improved lighting, and more knee space.

These upgrades deliver a more restful trip and more consistent service—important for family groups, corporate travelers, and wedding parties moving between India and Vietnam.

Capacity and Commercial Benefits

• More seats in both cabins allow the airline to:
  • Offer competitive fares during peak seasons
  • Maintain a premium product for passengers who want extra space
• Practical business impact:
  • Mumbai-origin business travelers can arrive rested for conferences or meetings thanks to full-flat beds
  • Leisure travelers, families, and seniors benefit from quieter cabins and enhanced entertainment

VisaVerge.com analysis suggests that adding wide-body capacity can support more stable pricing by spreading fixed costs across larger cabins. This gives Vietnam Airlines room to position Business Class and a modern Economy cabin attractively for Indian travelers.

Airline and Local Stakeholder Perspectives

Vietnam Airlines’ India team framed the upgrade as a long-term commitment:

• Nguyen Trung Hieu, Country Manager for India, said moving the A350 and 787 onto Mumbai routes signals long-term investment.
• Abhishek Goyal, CEO & Executive Director of Aeroprime Group (Vietnam Airlines’ General Sales Agent in India), highlighted rising interest among Indian travelers and readiness to meet demand.

An inaugural wide-body flight from Mumbai was marked by a ceremony attended by dignitaries, airport leaders, and airline representatives.

“Moving wide-bodies onto Mumbai routes signals long-term investment in the market.” — Nguyen Trung Hieu (paraphrased)

Ground and Operational Improvements

Wide-body operations also improve the ground experience:

• Extra staff at check-in and boarding to handle larger flights
• Potential for dedicated counters at peak times and clearer lane management
• Better support for passengers needing assistance, which can shorten queues and reduce last-minute gate changes

These operational benefits help airports plan resources more precisely around predictable wide-body movements.

Who Benefits and How

• Business travelers: Ability to sleep on full-flat beds can determine the success of short trips.
• Families and seniors: Quieter cabins, better entertainment, and larger overhead bins make travel easier.
• Students and small exporters: More baggage allowance, better rest, and predictable schedules simplify logistics.

For mixed-group travel, wide-bodies typically carry more Business Class seats while keeping large Economy sections together—useful when relatives travel in different cabins and budgets.

Market Strategy and Timing

Vietnam Airlines describes the India push as measured expansion:

1. Build presence with narrow-body flights.
2. Upgrade to wide-bodies once demand proved durable.
3. Time the wide-body shift with added frequencies and new city launches in May 2025.

This deliberate approach focuses on depth in Mumbai and Delhi before extending to other Indian cities, allowing consistent operations and a stable product.

Practical Planning Tips for Travelers

• Book tickets on Vietnam Airlines’ digital channels and review cabin details before purchase.
• Check visa and entry guidance well before departure via the Vietnam e-Visa official portal.
• Ensure accurate passenger names, valid passports, and consider travel insurance.
• Families and groups should review baggage needs and set reminders to check documents several weeks before travel.

Key Takeaways

• Vietnam Airlines has upgraded its India operations by placing A350 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft on key Mumbai routes.
• The airline maintains 14 weekly flights across Delhi and Mumbai and will add Bengaluru and Hyderabad services in May 2025.
• Passengers on Mumbai–Hanoi and Mumbai–Ho Chi Minh City routes gain greater comfort, more spacious cabins, and enhanced service quality.
• Travelers should consult the Vietnam e-Visa official portal for visa guidance before booking.

This wide-body shift gives India–Vietnam travelers a modern, reliable, and comfortable way to fly from both Mumbai and Delhi, with expanded access from southern India later in 2025.