Commercial Counsellor at the US Embassy in Vietnam Charles Ranado presents a permit to operate non-stop flight between Vietnam and the US (Photo: VOV)

The permit was presented in Hanoi by Commercial Counsellor at the US Embassy in Vietnam Charles Ranado. The first flight of Vietnam Airlines will take off next Sunday.

Le Hong Ha, General Director of Vietnam Airlines, said: “Opening a regular flight to the US is the goal and desire of all airlines. This assesses the airline's competitive position, its development level and operational ability. Vietnam Airlines has longed for this event for the past 20 years and now, we are able to do it. In the initial commercial operation to the US, Vietnam Airlines operates two  flights per week, carrying both passengers and cargo.”

The flight from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco takes 13 hours and 50 minutes. The return flight departs from San Francisco and lands in Ho Chi Minh City with flight time duration of 6 hours and 40 minutes. The flights will be operated by wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

From next month, Vietnam Airlines will operate a regular route between Ho Chi Minh City and San Francisco with a frequency of two flights per week. The airlines will increase to seven flights per week after the pandemic is controlled and the Vietnamese Government allows the reopening of regular international flights.