The Vietnam Airlines Launching Nonstop Flights to the U.S.

Subsequent 12 months, flying from the U.S. to Vietnam will probably be simpler than ever, thanks to 2 Vietnamese air carriers launching new nonstop flights from the West Coast. Vietnam Airways and Bamboo Airways, each based mostly in Hanoi, have plans to function routes into San Francisco in 2022.

In actual fact, Vietnam Airways’ first U.S. route is already formally underneath means. Earlier this week, the service launched its inaugural flight from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis into San Francisco Worldwide Airport. The flight, already notable for being a uncommon nonstop route, was historic in different methods, too: It was the first-ever recurrently scheduled flight operated between the U.S. and Vietnam. The launch of the route marks “a brand new milestone for Vietnam Airways and Vietnam’s aviation,” the airline’s CEO Le Hong Ha mentioned in an announcement on Monday.

The service will function two flights per week on the route with a wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plane. On board, the aircraft will probably be outfitted with 28 lie-flat business-class seats, 35 premium economic system seats, and 211 seats in common economic system, in response to business website Airline Geeks; fares for economic system seats will begin round $1,000 for round-trip flights. Though it’s nonstop, the route remains to be fairly prolonged: on the eastbound leg, flight instances clock in at almost 14 hours, whereas westbound flights will probably be virtually 17 hours lengthy, Airline Geeks says. In honor of its new California vacation spot, the airline additionally says it can serve wine from Napa Valley on board paired with cheeses and different dishes from the U.S.

Vietnam Airways can also be a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, which incorporates carriers like Delta and Air France. Meaning U.S. vacationers can redeem Delta SkyMiles to guide flights on Vietnam Airways or earn Delta miles whereas flying the Hanoi-based service.

Whereas the service will finally broaden the path to function seven days every week, these plans are at present on maintain because of COVID-19 restrictions. Additionally doubtlessly within the works? A second route, presumably between Los Angeles and Hanoi, experiences Airline Geeks.

In line with information outlet Vietnam Plus, the route has been within the works for 20 years. In that point, Vietnam Airways has expanded to be one of many largest carriers in Southeast Asia, with 29 worldwide locations in its route community. “We’re grateful to Vietnam Airways for making San Francisco their first U.S. vacation spot, and we’re assured this new service will probably be successful,” Ivar C. Satero, SFO’s director, mentioned in an announcement.

Moreover, with the launch of its San Francisco route Vietnam Airways beat out competitor Bamboo Airways, which has additionally been racing to safe a daily nonstop path to the West Coast. Bamboo Airways, a a lot newer, quickly increasing upstart based in 2017, operated an preliminary take a look at flight in September between Hanoi and San Francisco. Whereas that first take a look at flight was successful, the service remains to be awaiting official clearance from the FAA to launch a daily route.

First, Bamboo Airways must fly a number of extra demonstration flights from Hanoi and Da Nang to San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles, in response to Airline Geeks, with the hope of launching one of many nonstop routes in early 2022. Just like Vietnam Airways, Bamboo Airways’ inaugural route will doubtless be a nonstop flight from Ho Chi Minh Metropolis into SFO, because the airline signed a memorandum of understanding with San Francisco airport officers in September to launch that route subsequent 12 months.

However the similarities don’t finish there: Bamboo Airways can also be utilizing a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plane on its flights to the U.S., additionally outfitted with three cabin lessons: enterprise class with lie-flat seats, premium economic system, and common economic system. The airline plans to start out with 4 flights per week on the route, with hopes of quickly increasing service to seven days every week, pending authorities approvals.