The US-based Delta Air Lines Friday opened an office in Ho Chi Minh City in preparation for the launch of a new daily service between HCMC and the US.

Sarathool Monthienvichienchai, Delta Airlines’ general manager Vietnam, said since Los Angeles is home to the largest Vietnamese population in the US, “the new service is expected to appeal to the growing Vietnamese market.”

Around 500,000 overseas Vietnamese live in the Los Angeles, Orange County areas.

Delta Air Lines also appointed the East Sea Travel & Air Service Group as its general sales agent for passengers and Indo Trans Logistics company for cargo in Vietnam.

United Airlines is the only US carrier that flies to Vietnam now with a daily service between San Francisco and HCMC via Hong Kong.

In February Vietnam Airlines spokesman Trinh Ngoc Thanh said the flag carrier plans to launch direct flights to the US in the last quarter of 2010, three years later than originally planned.

Reported by Vinh Bao