Vietnamese carrier Vietjet Air is launching a charter programme from Koltsovo International Airport in Yekaterinburg. From 26 October 2026, flights start to Phu Quoc island; from 1 November, a second route opens to Nha Trang. Both routes will run on wide-body Airbus A330-300 aircraft, twice every 10–11 days, for the whole winter season. Here's what it means for travellers from Yekaterinburg and the surrounding Urals region.
What Vietjet is launching, and when
Vietjet's charter programme from Koltsovo opens on 26 October with a flight to Phu Quoc — Vietnam's largest island, in the Gulf of Thailand, known for tropical beaches and jungle. From 1 November the airline adds a second destination, Nha Trang, a resort on the country's southeast coast. According to Koltsovo airport's press office, both routes will run at the same frequency — twice every 10–11 days — on Airbus A330-300 aircraft that seat nearly 380 passengers.
Why it matters for Urals travellers
Previously, Sverdlovsk region residents flying the same airline to Vietnam had to connect through Astana. A direct charter programme from Koltsovo removes that extra layover and adds a choice of resort: Nha Trang flights from Yekaterinburg were previously operated by Aeroflot, while there was no direct service to Phu Quoc from the city at all.
This is a separate, unrelated programme from the Azur Air story from last week, where that carrier cancelled its own winter Nha Trang flights from seven other Russian cities. If you're booking a winter 2026/2027 package, confirm the specific carrier and departure airport with your tour operator — programmes from different airlines to the same destination aren't interchangeable.
Who is affected
This concerns travellers flying out of Yekaterinburg, or willing to travel there from neighbouring regions of the Urals and Siberia. Tickets for Vietjet's charter flights from Koltsovo are mostly sold as part of package tours through tour operators; check with carriers and aggregators separately if you need a standalone flight ticket.
What to do if you're planning a trip
- Book through a tour operator who explicitly names Vietjet Air and Koltsovo airport as the carrier and departure point — that confirms you're getting the current route, not an outdated schedule.
- Check Vietnam's entry rules on the destination page: Russian citizens currently get visa-free entry for a limited period, and the terms change from time to time.
- Compare the Phu Quoc launch date (26 October) against Nha Trang (1 November) — if the resort matters more than the date, note the two routes don't start at the same time.
- If you need help choosing between resorts or dates, try the destination match tool — it factors in season and budget.
Vietjet flights from Yekaterinburg: what and when
Launch of Vietjet Air's charter programme from Koltsovo airport for winter 2026/2027
| Destination | Flights start | Frequency | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phu Quoc (Vietnam) | 26 October 2026 | Twice every 10–11 days | Airbus A330-300 (~380 seats) |
| Nha Trang (Vietnam) | 1 November 2026 | Twice every 10–11 days | Airbus A330-300 (~380 seats) |
Both programmes are billed as running the whole winter 2026/2027 navigation season — meaning regular flights through to spring — but the airline hasn't announced an exact end date for the charters. If you're booking for the tail end of the season, confirm with your tour operator whether the programme has been extended.
Sources
Charter schedules can be adjusted — confirm your flight's current status with the tour operator or airline before travelling.
- Oblastnaya Gazeta, 14 October 2026 — the official newspaper of the Sverdlovsk region government; launch dates and aircraft type.
- UralBusinessConsulting, 14 October 2026 — citing Koltsovo airport's press office, flight frequency and programme length.
* Schedules, flight frequency and tour availability are approximate and subject to change. Check the latest information with the airline and tour operator before you travel.
