VNA to launch direct air service to U.S. in 2020

According to a draft decision on the enhancement of air service connections between Vietnam and source markets, after Vietnam Airlines launches the nonstop service to the United States’ West Coast in 2020, other airlines will open direct air routes to the country in 2025.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration in August started to assess the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam’s aviation safety evaluation capacity to decide whether Vietnam can open a direct air route to the United States.

Launching direct air services to the United States is part of the plan to expand Vietnam’s tourism source markets and increase flight frequency to enhance the number of tourist arrivals in Vietnam. The target markets are China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, France, Britain, Russia, Australia, the United States and India.

A series of flights between Vietnam and China will be launched. Airlines in 2020 will launch new air links between Vietnam’s cities and provinces, such as Hanoi, HCMC, Danang, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong and Kien Giang, and many localities in China, such as Chongqing, Dalian, Haikou, Wuhan, Ningbo, Hainan, Xi An and Harbin. The current air routes will still be in operation to meet the rising travel demand.

As planned, in 2025, the nation’s carriers will open air routes to connect Can Tho City and Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Quang Binh provinces with various destinations in China.

Regarding the Japanese market, the Ministry of Transport has discussed a plan to supplement commitments on air services at Haneda Airport in Tokyo with its Japanese counterpart. Many direct air flights between the cities of Hai Phong, Can Tho and Hue as well as the provinces of Quang Ninh, Lam Dong, Kien Giang and Binh Dinh and various Japanese localities will be launched.