The US Embassy in Vietnam officially granted Vietnam with Category 1 (CAT 1) rating on Friday. The FAA ratings evaluate a country’s adherence to international aviation safety regulations and ICAO standards. Category 1, the top rating, will open up new business opportunities for Vietnam’s airlines.
The national carrier Vietnam Airlines, low-cost Vietjet Air, and the new comer Bamboo Airways of the FLC Group said they had desired to open direct flights to the US until the CAT 1 is granted. The Vietnamese airlines target destinations like Los Angeles and San Francisco where many Vietnamese people live. Travelers currently must connect through other Asian hubs like Hong Kong, Seoul, or Tokyo.
