The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to grant a Category 1 rating to Viet Nam soon, allowing its airlines to fly to the US and codeshare with US carriers, according to the Straits Times.

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, budget airline Vietjet Air and newcomer Bamboo Airways have expressed a desire to fly to the US. There are currently no non-stop flights between the two countries, despite a large market catering to tourism and visits by friends and relatives.

Travellers looking to visit the country need to connect in other Asian nations such as China and Japan.

Data of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam showed the country’s rapidly growing aviation market saw traffic increase 16 per cent on average each year from 2010 to 2017.

Viet Nam currently does not hold an FAA rating.

Category 1 means air carriers from a country may initiate or continue service to the US and take part in reciprocal code-share arrangements with US carriers. — VNS