(Photo: Vietnam Airlines)

A week ago, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines received official permission from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate non-stop commercial flight service between Vietnam and the US, making Vietnam Airlines the first Vietnamese carrier to be allowed to operate regular direct flights to the US.

Vietnam Airlines hopes to serve the 2.2 million Vietnamese people studying or living in the US. For now it will operate 2 direct flights to the US every week connecting HCM city with San Francisco. The airline aims to increase the frequency to 7 flights per week after the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control and the government agrees to resume regular commercial flights.

"Vietnam Airlines is seeking opportunities to increase international commercial flights. We strictly abide by all regulations to serve our customers. We are expanding flights to Australia, Japan, and South Korea and hoping to carry both passengers and cargo to these destinations," said Le Hong Ha, Vietnam Airlines Director General.

Since Vietnam and the US normalized their ties in 1995, they have become comprehensive partners in politics, diplomacy, economics, education, science, and technology with bilateral trade growing steadily. Last year, two-way trade totaled more than 90 billion USD and it is expected to reach 100 billion USD soon. 

Vietnam has become the US’s 10^th largest trade partner while the US is Vietnam’s largest trade partner. The new regular direct flights are expected to boost trade ties.

"Opening direct flights to the US is the aim of every airline. This is a measure of the competitiveness, development, and capacity of a carrier. Vietnam Airlines has worked hard for 20 years to achieve this aim," said Mr. Ha.

Dao Trong Khoa, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Logistics Association said that the direct flights to the US will create great opportunities for the logistics sector and help supply chains recover and develop.