Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, Aug. 24 (VNA) -- The U.S. Government on Aug. 23 allowed three U.S. airlines, Delta Airlines Inc., Northwest Airlines Corp. and United Airlines, to provide service to Viet Nam through code-sharing arrangements.

Under code-sharing principle, an airline sells tickets under its own name, but another carrier provides some or all of the service.

Delta Airlines will code-share with Air France for service to Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Noi.

Northwest Airlines will code-share its flights with Malaysia Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Noi.

Meanwhile, the United Airlines will code-share with Japan's All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd., Thai Airways International Ltd. and Deutsche Lufthansa AG for service to Ho Chi Minh City.

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines and Vietnam Airlines last July signed a code-sharing agreement to take effect next year. The only other existing U.S.-Viet Nam service is operated under a code-sharing arrangement between Vietnam Airlines and Taiwan's China Airlines using the latter's direct service to the United States.--VNA