Hong Kong, May 31 -- When the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded a Category 1 safety rating to Vietnam in February, clearing the way for the first non-stop flights between Vietnam and the United States in aviation history, it was a decision a long time coming.
"This is a great achievement for us as the process spanned more than ten years," Vietnam (VNA) Airlines CEO and president director, Duong Tri Thanh, told Orient Aviation last month. Despite welcoming the breakthrough, Thanh is not about to launch VNA metal across the Pacific any time soon.
Firstly, the carrier does not have aircraft that can make the journey non-stop. Secondly, he realizes one-stop services present a major commercial risk. So, while waiting for suita...