Bamboo Airways is authorised to operate nonstop flights by wide-body aircraft Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner between major airports in Việt Nam with all international airports in the US. — Photo courtesy of the airline

HÀ NỘI — Bamboo Airways has been granted a Foreign Air Carrier Permit from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), allowing it to run direct flights between Việt Nam and the US.

Bamboo Airways has been authorised to operate direct flights by wide-body aircraft Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner between major airports in Việt Nam such as Hà Nội and HCM City with all international airports in the US, including airports in Los Angeles or San Francisco that Bamboo Airways is considering for its maiden flights.

The development also opens up opportunities for codeshare co-operation between Bamboo Airways and partners in the US.

According to Nguyễn Ngọc Trọng, Deputy General Director of Bamboo Airways, this is an important milestone in the carrier's flight route promotion. After receiving the permit from the USDOT, the carrier will continue to implement licensing procedures from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US Transportation Security Organisation (TSA) and other US authorities.

In parallel with the licensing procedures, Bamboo Airways has prepared facilities and equipment to meet operating standards. The carrier has been training pilots and improving its fleet. Employees are trained on requirements and regulations related to safety and security, legal conditions, federal and state laws and market situations to prepare for direct flights.

“Depending on the pandemic recovery of the US and market conditions, by the end of 2020 or at the beginning of 2021 at the soonest, we will operate direct flights to the US,” Trọng said.

Aviation experts evaluate the market potential between the two countries is at about 700,000 passengers per year, while only 30,000 – 60,000 passengers per year are needed to open the flight route.

In term of legal aspects, in 2003, Việt Nam and US signed an aviation agreement that allows carriers of the two countries to operate direct flights with a frequency of one flight per day or fly over to a transition country before departing from the US.

In 2010, the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAAV) reviewed and reassessed the agreement, concluding there are no restrictions or obstacles on passengers, flight frequency to apply for permission to open flights connecting Việt Nam and the US.

And after 10 years of efforts, in early 2019, the Việt Nam Aviation Administration obtained the US CAT-1 certificate. This is a prerequisite for Vietnamese airlines to apply for permits to fly to the US and to codeshare with US airlines. The FAA will continue to evaluate the capacity of each Vietnamese carrier.

The CAAV appreciates Bamboo Airways’ effort in obtaining the permit. A leader of the CAAV said that the establishment of a direct flight between Việt Nam and the US not only has commercial meaning but also demonstrates Bamboo Airways and the whole industry’s competence. — VNS