Nguyen Hoang Lien, chief of the Middle Airports Corporation (MAC), said that on Thursday saw 44 domestic and international flights operated by Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific and Dongfang Airlines of China using the new terminal.

The commissioning of the new terminal came just three months after Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang inspected the progress of the terminal construction project and ordered the terminal be put into operation by December 31.

Developed on an area of 14,400 square meters to the south of the old terminal, the new terminal consists of three floors and a basement with the capacity to serve 4.5-5 million passengers and 400,000-1 million tons of cargo per year during the first phase. The total cost for the new terminal is VND1.3 trillion, or over US$62 million.

* An Asiana Airlines Airbus aircraft with 160 passengers on board on Wednesday evening landed at the Danang International Airport, marking the launch of the airline’s direct service between Seoul and Danang.

Danang vice chairman Phung Tan Viet appreciated the effort of Asiana Airlines and its parent firm Kumho Asiana Group in keeping their promise of operating direct flights between Seoul and Danang. He said the city’s authorities would facilitate the development of international air routes to Danang.

A representative of Asiana Airlines said it would operate two flights a week on the Seoul-Danang route on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

With the newly opened route, Danang City now has six international air routes, including scheduled and chartered flights.

With the new air service, Asiana Airlines is the top air carrier in terms of flight frequency between South Korea and Vietnam with 37 flights per week.