Vietnam has been granted a Category 1 rating by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), paving the way for Vietnamese airlines to apply for direct flight operations to the United States.
In an announcement on its website dated February 14, the FAA said the Category 1 rating was granted to Vietnam because the country complies with international safety standards.
“The Category 1 status announced today is based on an August 2018 FAA assessment of the safety oversight provided by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam,” said the FAA.
Under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, a Category 1 rating means the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) meets International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for personnel licensing, operations, and airworthiness, said FAA.
“With the Category 1 rating, Vietnamese air carriers that are able to secure the requisite FAA and DOT authority can establish service to the United States and carry the code of U.S. carriers,” the FAA continued.
After the announcement, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, budget airline Vietjet Air, and newcomer Bamboo Airways have expressed their desire to establish direct flights to the U.S., reported VNA.
There are currently no direct flights between the two countries. Travelers from Vietnam to the U.S. currently need to connect in other Asian nations and territories, such as China, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Data from the CAAV showed that Vietnam’s rapidly growing aviation market saw an average increase of 16% in traffic each year from 2010 to 2017, reported VNA.
The number of Americans visiting the country grew by 11.9% last year to 687,000, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
To maintain a Category 1 rating, a country must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO, the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.
Photo: De la Long Nguyen
