The US Embassy in Vietnam is scheduled to grant Vietnam the Category 1 (CAT 1) rating certificate on February 15, a prerequisite for Vietnam’s airlines to open direct flights to the US, local media reported.
Illustrative photo.
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Since 2012, Vietnam has aimed to qualify for CAT 1 and later sought supports from Boeing for enhancing its aviation capabilities. FAA carried out the first review in 2013 but found 49 shortcomings, and nearly half of them were due to the operation system and regulation.
The second review was launched in November 2018 with positive result.
Obtaining CAT 1 would create major advantages for future cooperation between two countries’ airlines, said Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).
As of present, national carrier Vietnam Airlines, along with Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways have planned to open direct flights to the US, while Vietnam Airlines is expected to launch the first flight by the end of 2019.
Vietnam's rapidly growing aviation market saw traffic increase 16% on average each year from 2010 to 2017, data from its civil aviation regulator shows.
