Donghai Airlines (DZ, Shenzhen) has announced plans to launch 2x weekly flights from its Shenzhen base to Quang Ninh, Vietnam, becoming the first international carrier to offer flights to the recently opened Van Don International airport.

The new service will operate using B737-800s and will initially be offered 2x weekly.

The airport serving the Ha Long region in Northern Vietnam was opened to scheduled traffic on December 30, 2018, and currently sees flights to Ho Chi Minh City exclusively. Bamboo Airways, VietJetAir, and Vietnam Airlines each offer a daily flight on the route at present.

According to ETtoday, Bamboo is expected to follow Donghai with international flights from Quang Ninh by offering scheduled charter flights to Taipei Taoyuan starting in June 2019.

Donghai operates a relatively limited international network at present offering just six routes from Nanning to Mandalay International, from Nantong to Jeju, from Shenzhen to Darwin, Haiphong and Mandalay, and from Wanzhou to Chiang Rai.