The consultations were co-chaired by Mr. Uong Viet Dung, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam, and Shri Puneet Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation of India. The Vietnamese delegation included Mr. Do Hong Cam, Deputy Director General of CAAV, leaders and officials from the Legal and International Cooperation Division and the Air Transport Division, as well as representatives of Vietnamese airlines, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Sun PhuQuoc Airways. The Indian delegation comprised representatives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of External Affairs, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Embassy of India in Viet Nam, and airlines IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air.
The consultations took place against the backdrop of strong growth in air connectivity between Viet Nam and India, alongside the expansion of economic, trade and tourism activities and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Currently, four airlines operate scheduled services between Viet Nam and India, including Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air of Viet Nam, and IndiGo and Air India of India. The airlines operate 15 routes connecting four destinations in Viet Nam with six destinations in India. In the coming period, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is also expected to enter the Indian market upon completion of the necessary regulatory requirements and procedures.
In the first six months of 2026, airlines from the two countries operated more than 4.400 scheduled flights, carrying nearly 820.400 passengers and more than 14.100 tonnes of cargo. Compared with the same period in 2025, the number of flights increased by 11,7%, passenger traffic by 14,7%, and cargo volume by as much as 32%.
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These results demonstrate that demand for air transport between the two countries is growing rapidly. At the same time, the market's strong growth has created an urgent need to further expand available capacity. The capacity entitlements agreed by the two sides in 2024 have gradually become one of the factors limiting the ability of airlines from both countries to expand their operations.
During the two-day consultations, the Vietnamese and Indian delegations engaged in open and substantive discussions on the current operating situation, market demand, and orientations for the development of Viet Nam–India air transport in the coming period. Based on an assessment of actual demand and the market's growth potential, the two sides agreed to increase capacity, creating conditions for airlines to expand their operations and better meet the growing demand for passenger and cargo transport between the two countries.
This outcome is significant for the implementation of the directions agreed by the Leaders of the two countries during the State Visit to India by General Secretary and President To Lam in May 2026. The Joint Statement issued during the visit welcomed the strengthening of direct air services between Viet Nam and India and encouraged the civil aviation authorities of the two countries to hold consultations to further enhance air connectivity.
The agreement to increase capacity is expected to provide greater room for airlines from both countries to expand their route networks and frequencies, while contributing to the promotion of tourism, trade, investment, business exchanges and people-to-people exchanges between Viet Nam and India.
The outcomes achieved after two days of consultations reaffirm the important role of aviation cooperation in the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and India. They also provide a favourable foundation for the two sides to continue coordinating efforts to promote direct air connectivity and better meet the growing needs of the markets of both countries./.
(International Cooperation and Legal Department)
