VietNamNet Bridge - “If things go smoothly, we can expect a direct flight between Vietnam and Los Angeles by the end of 2019 or early 2020,” Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles’ Mayor, told a local newspaper recently.


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Los Angeles' Mayor Eric Garcetti



He told Bizlive that two factors will determine if Vietnam can launch direct flights to the US. 

First, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) needs to get an agreement from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The US side needs to be sure that Vietnam can meet the requirements to provide direct flights. 

Vietnam has requested FAA to conduct safety assessments in August. The result of the assessment will serve as an important basis for Vietnam to open direct flights to the US.

The second factor is a technical issue. There are two cities in the US that Vietnam is considering to provide flights to, either San Francisco or Los Angeles. 

Vietnam Airlines has close links with Delta Airlines which has a large presence in Los Angeles. Vietnamese can fly to Los Angeles and then travel across the US or fly to Latin-American countries through the SkyTeam alliance.

Garcetti thinks that flights to San Francisco would take much time and need stops. 

There is a Singapore-Los Angeles direct air route, and with the capacity of Boeing Dreamliner 797, the Vietnam-Los Angeles is feasible.

It is estimated that about one-third of traded goods between Vietnam and the US are transshipped via the Los Angeles area.

At the meeting with PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 28, Garcetti said that Los Angeles authorities had successful working sessions with the Ministries of Transport and Industry & Trade.

“We hope FAA will approve the launch of a direct air route prior to the end of 2018. So, preparation works will be implemented next year to for it to occur by the end of 2019,” he said.

In the interview, he said he thinks that the approval of a direct air route between Vietnam and the US would be obtained during Donald Trump’s presidency.

When asked which Vietnam airline would first provide direct flights to the US, Garcetti said he believes the national air carrier Vietnam Airlines would be the first partner. 

Vietnam Airlines has close links with Delta Airlines which has a large presence in Los Angeles. Vietnamese can fly to Los Angeles and then travel across the US or fly to Latin-American countries through the SkyTeam alliance.

A representative of Vietnam Airlines affirmed that the carrier can meet standards and is ready to provide direct flights to the US if CAAV can get a CAT1 certificate from the US.

Bamboo Airways, a newcomer in the aviation market, has also stated that the US is one of its key international markets, together with Northeast Asia and Europe.


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