National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has been officially licensed by the Canadian Department of Transportation to conduct commercial transport of passengers and cargo between the two countries.

The airline was granted the "Foreign Air Operator Certificate" (FAOC) after more than four months of negotiations between Vietnam Airlines and Canadian authorities. Canada is one of the countries with the strictest legal barriers for foreign airlines to operate.

Vietnam Airlines licensed for commercial flights to Canada. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

To achieve this certification, Vietnam Airlines has worked with at least six specialized agencies of Canada including Aviation Authorities, the Ministry of Transport, Aviation Security Agency, Border Services Agency, Internal Revenue Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The FAOC issued to Vietnam Airlines is valid from June 11, 2021 without expiration and flight restriction. The airline was granted this certificate for the first time with a three-month validity from July 13 to October 13, 2020 and extended until November 15, 2020.

Vietnam Airlines has remained the first and only airline in Vietnam that has been approved by the Canadian authorities.

The airline will operate flights to bring home Vietnamese citizens in Canada, and complete the necessary procedures to transport Canadian passengers and international students from Vietnam to Canada.

Vietnam Airlines is developing a plan to operate flights between Vietnam and Canada, of which  Toronto and Vancouver will be the main destinations. The first flight is scheduled to depart on June 30 to repatriate Vietnamese nationals stranded in Toronto due to the novel coronavirus disease pandemic.

In early June, Vietnam Airlines was also licensed by the US authorities to carry out 12 more flights to repatriate Vietnamese expats.