VietJet to leverage Kazakhstan hub for European expansion amid fuel constraints
Vietnamese LCC uses Fifth Freedom rights and its Kazakh subsidiary to link Southeast Asia with the EU
Despite a tightening fuel supply environment in its home market, Vietnamese LCC VietJet Air is forging ahead with its plans to penetrate the European market using Kazakhstan as a springboard.
Speaking at the Routes Asia 2026 forum in China, Jay L. Lingeswara, Vice President of VietJet and recently appointed CCO of VietJet Qazaqstan, confirmed that the airline is maintaining its focus on international growth even as it recalibrates its domestic operations a bit.
As recently announced by the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, starting July 11, the budget airline plans to launch a new route linking Hanoi and Prague via Almaty. The service will operate twice weekly using Airbus A330 widebody aircraft.
The Almaty–Prague leg will utilize Fifth Freedom traffic rights under Kazakhstan’s Open Skies policy, allowing the carrier to transport passengers between Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic.
The pivot toward international markets comes at a time when VietJet is facing operational headwinds in Vietnam. Currently, approximately 60% of Vietnam’s aviation fuel is imported, making the industry highly vulnerable to price volatility and supply chain disruptions. These constraints have led the LCC to temporarily suspend several domestic routes to prioritize more lucrative international segments.
According to Lingeswara, beyond Prague, the airline is eyeing further expansion into Germany, France, and Turkey. These markets have been identified due to high demand from the Vietnamese diaspora and growing tourism ties.
While the stopover in Almaty serves as a current operational necessity, VietJet is preparing for a shift to ultra-long-haul capabilities. The airline is awaiting the delivery of its first Airbus A330-900 (A330neo) aircraft. The superior range and fuel efficiency of the Neo variant will eventually allow VietJet to bypass intermediate stops and launch direct non-stop services between Vietnam’s major hubs and Europe.
