Airline delays direct Vietnam-US route plan till mid 2008
14:08 04/03/2009

      Vietnam Airlines will put off its plan to open direct flights to the US until mid 2008 since the carrier has to improve its security management system and train air marshals as required by the US.

The national flag carrier had earlier planned to launch the route, with stopover in Taiwan, by this year-end.

Lai Xuan Thanh, Deputy Head of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV), elaborated that the US set up many requirements for airlines which wanted to open air routes to the country.

Besides the security requirements, the US authorities also requested the Vietnamese carrier to provide the list of passengers and their personal information four hours before take-off.

Thanh said Vietnam Airlines would strive to fulfill the requirements to get access to the world’s biggest aviation market.

The airline could incur losses of US$20-30 million in the first year of the Vietnam-US route operation, but could recover the losses in 3-4 years, he added.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had asked Vietnam Airlines to open the Vietnam–US direct route soon, which would have “great social and political significance.”

The carrier would face intense competition from US airlines which offer many benefits and discounts to passengers to retain the loyalty of their American clientele.

Source: VnExpress – Translated by The Vinh

Source : thanhniennews.com