United Airlines celebrates a decade in Ho Chi Minh City

December 15, 2014 | 15:36

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United Airlines, the only US airline serving Vietnam, last week celebrated its 10th anniversary of service to Ho Chi Minh City.

Jake Cefolia, United’s vice president of Atlantic and Pacific Sales, joined the airline’s local sales team to host a reception at Park Hyatt Saigon attended by over 150 business partners.

“All of us at United, and particularly our team members in Vietnam, are very excited to celebrate this significant milestone with our business partners today,” said Cefolia.

“It is an honor to have spent a decade connecting these two great countries. Over the past 10 years, we have carried more than 750,000 passengers from Vietnam to the US, and to the numerous other destinations we serve,” he added.

In 2004 United became the first US airline to launch flights to Vietnam in 30 years. The service has had a positive impact on the relationship between the two counties, as well as on the tourism industry and the wider economy.

The inaugural flight, operated by Boeing 747 aircraft, arrived at Ho Chi Minh City on December 10, 2004. The first flight from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco via Hong Kong departed the following day.

United has a partnership with Japanese airline ANA in Vietnam, offering customers in Vietnam additional flight options to the US via the Tokyo/Narita hub on ANA’s daily non-stop service from Ho Chi Minh City.

Besides, United has supported numerous charitable organisations in the Vietnam community such as the American Chamber of Commerce charitable organisation arm, student scholarships, the Annual Cyclo Challenge for the needy held in Ho Chi Minh City, Habitat for Humanity, and a water project to help a remote village south of Danang get access to running water for the first time.

By By Mai Thuy

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