Opening the first flight route specializing in transporting goods in Vietnam

TT Meridian, an international trade 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.

Accordingly, the new route, announced by the company on May 19, 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) took effect in May 2021. Accordingly, 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.

Opening the first flight route specializing in transporting goods from Vietnam to the UK - 1 — Turkmenistan Airlines cargo plane. Photo: VNA

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 hopes that the new cargo route between the UK and Vietnam will help increase the frequency of cargo flights as well as the volume of air cargo between the two countries.

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

Starting in May, TT Meridian cargo flights depart from London Stansted Airport to Ashgabat International Airport (Turkmenistan) every Wednesday evening, local time, then depart from Ashgabat Airport on Thursday morning and arrive 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).

Opening the first flight route specializing in transporting goods from Vietnam to the UK - 2 — Shipments from the UK to Vietnam on a Turkmenistan Airlines flight. Photo: VNA

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 has every chance of improving in the coming years after Britain leaves the European Union (Brexit) and Britain completes negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

British businesses are now actively looking to fast-growing global markets like Vietnam to offset the decline in trade with the European Union.

(Source: BNews)

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