Vietnam Airlines ready for US direct route

By Dat Nguyen September 21, 2021 | 01:41 am PT

A Vietnam Airlines aircraft is seen at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, September 9, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

Vietnam Airlines is set to receive its final permit from U.S. authorities to conduct regular direct flights to the U.S. after nearly two decades of preparation.

The national flag carrier has completed all necessary documents to be approved by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), it stated.

It is set to receive the permit from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) soon. The airline did not specify a date.

Vietnam Airlines said the permit is different from that given earlier for international special charter flights between Vietnam and the U.S.

The carrier had earlier received permits to conduct 12 charter flights last year and another 12 this year.

Bamboo Airways had also received a permit to fly 12 charter flights to the U.S. from this month to November.

Last month, Bloomberg reported Vietnam Airlines was planning to operate regular flights between Vietnam and the U.S. starting October.

The airline in 2003 was ordered by the Ministry of Transport to begin direct services to the U.S. by 2005. However, concerns about profitability kept the carrier from realizing the goal until now.