The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has officially refused to open a Hanoi-HCM City air route along the 106th meridian, saying that it is not the right time to open the route.

CAAV on May 11, 2009 reported to the Prime Minister that if flying on the ‘golden air route’, the distance of the flight would be shortened by 142 kilometres, the flight time shortened by nine minutes and aircrafts would be able to save 0.52 tonnes of fuel per flight.

However, the administration, citing many reasons, including difficulties in management work, has decided that the air route cannot be opened at this moment.

Mai Trong Tuan, a former military pilot, the author of the project, stressed the need to set up a direct Hanoi-HCM City air route along the 106^th meridian as both the cities are located on this longitude.

Currently, domestic airlines are providing 50 flights every day from Hanoi to HCM City and from HCM City to Hanoi.

VietNamNet/TBKTVN