Passengers have taken off for the first direct flight between Da Nang and Japan. The national-flag carrier Viet Nam Airlines' inaugural service between Da Nang and Osaka City took off on Sunday.

Illustrative photo (Source: Viet Nam Airlines)

The flight coded VN336, using Airbus A321, lasted 4 and a half hours, according to the carrier.

Viet Nam Airlines said it operates seven flights per week, with services meeting four-star standards on the route. The flights depart at 00:20 from Da Nang and 9:30 from Osaka.

This is the 11^th air route to Japan Viet Nam Airlines has offered, along with those from Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.

Viet Nam Airlines is currently the largest carrier amongst those operating routes between Viet Nam and Japan, with 70 flights per week on average.

Since the first direct flight on the Viet Nam-Japan route took off in 1994, Viet Nam Airlines has carried 11.3 million passengers between the two countries, accounting for 65% of the market share.

The number of Japanese tourists to Da Nang increased more than 18 times in 2017 as compared with 2011.

(Source: VNA/ DA NANG Today)