The routes will only be available once Vietnam resumes inbound international flights.

VnExpressreports that Bamboo Airways has become the first Vietnamese airline to launch direct flights between Vietnam and London.

On Sunday, the airline announced the development at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, who is in the United Kingdom for the COP26 climate summit, which began yesterday in Glasgow, Scotland.

The flights will link Hanoi and Saigon with London and take around 12 hours, significantly less time than current routes which require a layover. Initially, there would be six round trips per week from each Vietnamese city, though it is not yet clear when the flights will actually begin, since normal inbound commercial flights are still suspended.

VietnamPlus adds that this frequency could increase to daily in 2022.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will be used by Bamboo on the route.

VnExpress also reports that APG UK, a passenger and cargo representation company, will act as Bamboo's partner in the UK, assisting with sales and marketing support, as well as aviation policies and procedures. 

Meanwhile, Thanh Nienreports that on October 25, the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that Vietnam Airlines has met all security requirements related to operating non-stop commercial flights to the US. This is one of the last steps in VNA's years-long effort to launch direct flights to America, which is home to a huge Vietnamese community and has substantial business ties with Vietnam.

As with Bamboo's London flights, there is no set timeline for VNA to offer flights to the US given Vietnam's ongoing international flight restrictions.

[Top image via Business Traveller.]