American Airlines plans codeshare with Vietnam carrier
HANOI - Vietnam Airlines and American Airlines plan to begin codesharing cooperation between Vietnam, Japan and the United States, by early 2006, airline officials said. American Airlines announced it has applied to the United States Department of Transportation for authorization to go ahead with the plan.
"Vietnam is one of the top destinations for air travel in Asia, and passenger traffic in the United States-Vietnam market has experienced very strong growth in recent years," American's Senior Vice President for Planning, Henry Joyner, said in a statement.
"We are pleased to have this mutually beneficial opportunity to work with Vietnam Airlines as its US partner and to serve this important market," he said in the statement, issued from Fort Worth, Texas.
Initially, codesharing would be offered from the United States to Japan and Europe.
Vietnam Airlines would place its "VN" designator code on American Airlines flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Paris and Frankfurt from the United States, which connect to Vietnam Airlines flights from these cities to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The airlines would also codeshare on some domestic routes.
In later phases, American Airlines would place its "AA" designator code on Vietnam Airlines' services from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Tokyo, Osaka, Paris and Frankfurt.
Vietnamese state media said Tuesday that the two airlines had signed an agreement to this effect. Vietnam Airlines North America representative Mai Quoc Tuan was quoted as saying the accord would give the carrier access to 25 US destinations.
Currently, United Airlines is the only US carrier operating flights to Vietnam. It flies seven times a week between Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam Airlines operates a fleet of 38 aircraft, serving 16 cities in Vietnam and 26 international destinations, is hoping to start direct flights to the United States in early 2006.
American Airlines serves 250 cities in more than 40 countries with more than 3,900 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 aircraft.
Agence France Presse - November 22, 2005.
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