Long layovers between Vietnam and the United States might soon be a thing of the past as Vietnam Airlines recently announced its wishes to begin nonstop flights to the US in 2018.
Last Thursday, during the Farnborough International Air Show in Hampshire, England, Vietnam Airlines CEO Duong Tri Thanh revealed the plan in an interview with BBC, reports Thanh Nien.
Vietnam Airlines has been mulling direct services to the US for 10 years, but the plan has only gained momentum in recent months, after Boeing signed an agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam last year promising to provide the technical support and training required to make it happen.
Things are also looking up for frequent flyers of the national airline as earlier this month, Skytrax, the UK’s airport rating organization, upgraded its status to four-star. With this certification, Vietnam Airlines now joins the company of some of the world's top airlines, including Air France, Emirates, Korean Air and Lufthansa, reports VietnamPlus.
Currently, flights between Saigon and 18 cities in the US are operating under codeshare agreements with various foreign carriers, according to Vietnam Airlines' website.
