13/03/10, 23:15:59 EST

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Airline not ready for Vietnam-US direct route

thanhniennews.com

Vietnam Airlines – the national flag carrier – has submitted proposals to authorities to delay the opening of direct flights to the US until late 2008.

This is the second time the carrier rescheduled its plan to provide direct routes to the US. The airlines earlier had set to start direct flights to the US until mid 2008.

Pham Ngoc Minh, deputy general director of Vietnam Airlines attributed the strong competition in the US market to the delay unready business.

Minh added Americans tended to choose US carrier over foreign airlines.

US customer loyalty to domestic airlines meant Vietnam was likely to sign deals with US airlines offering passengers flying on Vietnam Airlines the same benefits they got on US airlines.

Strict requirements in the US on security management system and air marshals posed challenges for Vietnam airlines.

The Vietnamese carrier is required by the US authorities to provide a list of passengers and their personal information four hours before take-off.

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

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.”

US air available

The US-based United Airlines earlier this month announced it would start a daily Ho Chi Minh City – Los Angeles route in October 29, as the world’s highest density of overseas Vietnamese resides in southern California.

E-tickets for the daily LA-HCMC flights will go on sale in June.

United is the only US airline operating direct passenger and cargo service between Vietnam and the United States.

It as operates daily flights from HCMC to Hong Kong with continuing non-stop service to San Francisco and connecting non-stop service to Chicago.

From these cities, United provides more flights to more cities in the US than any other airline.

 Printable Version  | published May 20, 2007