Opening the first cargo flight route between Vietnam and the UK

TT Meridian, an international trading and logistics company specializing in the UK and Vietnam markets, has become the first Vietnamese company in the UK to open a cargo flight route between the two countries via Turkmenistan.

The new route, announced by the company on 19 May, is operated by national carrier Turkmenistan Airlines and is so far the only cargo-only route between the UK and Vietnam.

The route is expected to boost bilateral trade activities since the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) came into effect in May 2021, under which the two governments committed to promoting economic and trade cooperation by reducing or eliminating import tariffs on many types of goods and products, removing trade barriers and creating a favorable business environment.

TT Meridian CEO Thai Tran said that TT Meridian, as a freight forwarding agent on the Vietnam-UK route, believes that the new route will provide exporters, importers and freight forwarders with more options in addition to the direct and indirect services currently available in the market.

Mr. Thai Tran expects the new cargo route between the UK and Vietnam will help increase the frequency of cargo flights as well as increase the volume of air cargo between the two countries.

According to TT Meridian CEO, the company's cargo service using the A330 aircraft, which can carry 30 tons, will allow shippers to send large shipments that cannot be handled by passenger flights.

Starting in May, TT Meridian's cargo flight departs from London Stansted Airport to Ashgabat International Airport, Turkmenistan, every Wednesday evening, local time, then departs from Ashgabat Airport on Thursday morning and arrives at Noi Bai International Airport, on Thursday afternoon, local time (4-hour connection time).

The return flight departs from Hanoi on Thursday evening and arrives at London Stansted Airport on Wednesday morning the following week (connecting time 5-6 days).

According to Mr. Thai Tran, together with Turkmenistan Airlines, Swissport and ACSV (ground agents in London and Hanoi) and other partners, TT Meridian has operated a number of test flights in the past few weeks.

Mr. Thai Tran believes that the company's quick connection times in Turkmenistan, along with its competitive rates, will support shipping agents, shippers and consignees during this difficult economic period.

Despite the global economic recession, Vietnam-UK two-way trade still recorded remarkable growth.

According to the UK Department of Business and Trade, Vietnam's total export turnover to the UK in 2022 reached 5.9 billion pounds, up 30.3% compared to 2021. The UK's total export turnover to Vietnam in 2022 reached 1 billion pounds, up 22.3% compared to 2021.

Vietnam is currently the UK's second largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and the 40th largest in the world, accounting for 0.4% of the UK's total turnover.

However, experts say this ranking is likely to improve in the coming years after the UK leaves the European Union (Brexit) and completes negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

British businesses are turning to fast-growing global markets like Vietnam to offset falling trade with the European Union.

According to VNA