US green-lights direct flights from Vietnam
(VOVWORLD) - The US Federal Aviation Administration Thursday declared that Vietnamese airlines comply with international safety standards under the agency’s International Aviation Safety Assessment program and are now able to operate direct flights to the US and codeshare with US carriers.
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.