United Airlines launches Historic US - Vietnam Service via Hong Kong

United Airlines today launched the first scheduled flight of a U.S. airline to Vietnam in almost 30 years.

“Today's launch of direct service to Vietnam marks an historic step in the relationship between the United States and Vietnam,” said Glenn Tilton, United’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The flight illustrates United's unsurpassed leadership in the Asia-Pacific market and comes at a time when Vietnam is experiencing robust economic growth and increased travel demand.”

“Decades of economic renovation have transformed Vietnam into a lively market of 80 million hard-working and talented people,” said Ambassador Chien Tam Nguyen, the Vietnamese ambassador to the United States. “Being one of the safest tourist destinations and fastest-growing economies in the world, Vietnam is an ideal place to visit and do business. On behalf of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I welcome direct air service and the closer economic and cultural ties between our two countries that will surely result, thus furthering the understanding, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between them.”

“Today's direct service marks a new beginning for a relationship that holds tremendous potential,” said the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam Michael Marine. “Vietnam is a dynamic emerging market for the United States, and United's service will enable us to enhance trade and tourism to the benefit of both nations.”

United now serves 12 Asia-Pacific destinations, with more on the way. Nonstop service from San Francisco to Nagoya, Japan, is scheduled to begin in March 2005, and United is seeking the right to provide daily service between Guangzhou, China, and San Francisco in spring 2005.

United Flight 869 departed San Francisco at 12:10 p.m. on Dec. 9 and arrives in Hong Kong at 7:00 p.m. on Dec. 10. The continuing flight will depart Hong Kong at 8:55 p.m. and arrive in Ho Chi Minh City at 10:25 p.m. Beginning Dec. 11, United Flight 862 will depart Ho Chi Minh City at 6:20 a.m. and arrive in Hong Kong at 9:45 a.m. The continuing flight will depart Hong Kong at 12:50 p.m. and arrive in San Francisco at 8:25 a.m. the same day.

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