Nhan Dan - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will open a representative office in Vietnam in early 2009, IATA general director has announced.

This has brought the total IATA representative offices in the world to 85 which are aimed at boosting air transport co-operation between countries.

According to IATA, Vietnam is among the top ten markets with fastest growth in the world and also an important market in Asia-Pacific.

Vietnam Airlines has been an IATA member since 2006 and has been granted IATA's Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate.

IATA currently has 230 members that are airlines from 125 countries and territories. Flights by IATA members represent 93% of world's international scheduled traffic.