A delegation of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on August 13 returned to Vietnam for the third time to carry out technical review of aviation safety of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), in preparation for direct air service between the two countries, Tien Phong newspaper reported.
Vietnam always attaches great importance to air safety, said CAAV General Director Dinh Viet Thang, adding that for the last 21 consecutive years, there has been no lethal aviation accident in the country.
Thang pledged that relevant agencies and units of the aviation industry will work in concert with the FAA mission to achieve good results after the review.
On July 28, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho worked with US Mayor of Los Angeles (LA) Eric Garcetti, who said that Vietnam and the US were investigating, conducting procedures to open direct flights between the two countries. Garcetti hoped LA will be a destination of the US-Vietnam direct service in the future.
With the proposal to open direct flights between Vietnam and LA, Deputy Minister of Transport has assigned the CAAV and national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines to study and consider the air route.
Tho also proposed the LA authorities to assist the Vietnamese side in terms of procedures if the opening of direct flights between Vietnam and the US was agreed by authorities of the two countries
During the annual general meeting of Vietnam Airlines on May 10, 2018, the company's General Director Duong Tri Thanh also disclosed that the carrier may open direct flights to the US at the end of 2019.
He noted that Vietnam Airlines will need about five to 10 years to reach the break-even for the flight route.
According to initial calculations, in the first five years of operation of the direct flights to the US, Vietnam Airlines will post a loss of US$30 million per year.
It is known that Vietnam Airlines has applied for a commercial airworthiness license to the US Department of Transportation.
Prior to that, in 2004, United Airlines opened a direct route from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City through Hong Kong. However, this route was stopped in 2016 due to poor performance.
Accordingly, in order to be approved to fly to the US, other national aviation authorities must reach the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), FAA safety regulations. Specifically, the aviation safety supervision level 1 (CAT 1) must be approved. After reaching CAT1, the CAAV will be allowed to supervise airlines based in Vietnam to ensure compliance with regulations and meet international standards to be able to fly directly to the US.
Vietnam Airlines.
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Thang pledged that relevant agencies and units of the aviation industry will work in concert with the FAA mission to achieve good results after the review.
On July 28, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho worked with US Mayor of Los Angeles (LA) Eric Garcetti, who said that Vietnam and the US were investigating, conducting procedures to open direct flights between the two countries. Garcetti hoped LA will be a destination of the US-Vietnam direct service in the future.
With the proposal to open direct flights between Vietnam and LA, Deputy Minister of Transport has assigned the CAAV and national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines to study and consider the air route.
Tho also proposed the LA authorities to assist the Vietnamese side in terms of procedures if the opening of direct flights between Vietnam and the US was agreed by authorities of the two countries
During the annual general meeting of Vietnam Airlines on May 10, 2018, the company's General Director Duong Tri Thanh also disclosed that the carrier may open direct flights to the US at the end of 2019.
He noted that Vietnam Airlines will need about five to 10 years to reach the break-even for the flight route.
According to initial calculations, in the first five years of operation of the direct flights to the US, Vietnam Airlines will post a loss of US$30 million per year.
It is known that Vietnam Airlines has applied for a commercial airworthiness license to the US Department of Transportation.
Prior to that, in 2004, United Airlines opened a direct route from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City through Hong Kong. However, this route was stopped in 2016 due to poor performance.
Accordingly, in order to be approved to fly to the US, other national aviation authorities must reach the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), FAA safety regulations. Specifically, the aviation safety supervision level 1 (CAT 1) must be approved. After reaching CAT1, the CAAV will be allowed to supervise airlines based in Vietnam to ensure compliance with regulations and meet international standards to be able to fly directly to the US.
