Ho chi minh trail

The Hanoitimes – Air carriers plan to resume domestic flights after the nationwide social distancing order ends on April 15, suggest their passengers that they should use online check-in procedures via websites.

VietjetAir, Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways plan to resume domestic flights from April 16 to meet travel demand after the end of the 15-day nationwide social distancing period.

Vietnam Airlines’ crew. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

Bamboo Airways announced on April 11 to resume domestic flights from April 16. The airline will increase up to 7 roundtrip flights per day for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City route from April 16 to 19.

From April 20, the airline plans to reopen one roundtrip flight for routes: Hanoi – Cam Ranh/Danang/Phu Quoc/Quy Nhon; Ho Chi Minh City – Danang/Hai Phong/Thanh Hoa/Quy Nhon/Vinh.

On the same day, Vietnam Airlines also announced to operate two flights per day from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and vice versa. Other routes will be operated with one flight per day, including Hanoi – Danang/Phu Quoc, and Ho Chi Minh City – Danang/Hai Phong/Vinh/ Nha Trang/Phu Quoc and vice versa.

Meanwhile, Vietjet Air plans to reopen three more routes from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on April 11, 12 and 14. The increase in flights is intended to meet the needs of those who have ended their isolation period. Passengers will be required to provide certificates for quarantine completion and Covid-19 negative.

The low-cost airline will also operate domestic flights from April 16.

The three Vietnamese airlines have been ordered to reduce the frequency of domestic flights until April 15, in a bid to the prevent the risk of contagion from pandemic-hit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to other provinces and cities.

Accordingly, Vietnam Airlines only operates one flight among Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Danang and Phu Quoc; other routes are suspended until further notice.

Meanwhile, Bamboo Airways and Jetstar Pacific have cut many domestic services such as Hai Phong – Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City – Danang, while Vietjet Air operates three flights per day on the Ho Chi Minh City – Danang route.

The Hanoitimes – Air carriers will limit transport services from and to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Phu Quoc from March 30 until April 15.

Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways have been ordered to reduce the frequency of domestic flights until April 15, in a bid to the prevent the risk of contagion from pandemic-hit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to other provinces and cities.

Passengers are checking in Tan Son Nhat International Airport. (Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper)

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 29 requested the Ministry of Transport to supervise the suspension of international services as well as curb domestic flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, except for special cases.

In addition, operators are asked to limit public transport services.

Earlier, on the same day, the Ministry of Transport sent a dispatch to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) about the suspension of flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and other domestic destinations.

Vietnam Airlines announced on the same day its reduction of domestic flights from March 30 until April 15, and will conduct other domestic flights of emergency.

The national air carrier will only operate one flight among Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Danang and Phu Quoc; other routes are suspended until further notice.

Meanwhile, Bamboo Airways and Jetstar Pacific also cut many domestic routes such as Hai Phong – Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City – Danang, while Vietjet Air will operate three flights per day on the Ho Chi Minh City – Danang route.

According to Vietnam Airlines, it will also assist domestic passengers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic to change departing time in accordance with its regulations.

From March 25, all planes of Vietnam Airlines to Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City are disinfected and those in operation are sanitized once a day.

The Hanoitimes – The aviation authority has proposed allowing carriers to increase flight frequency between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and resume air connection from these two cities to other domestic destinations.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has submitted to the Ministry of Transport a plan to resume flights from April 23 after the expiration of the social distancing extension. All domestic routes, except the Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City – Danang routes, will be re-opened with limited frequency.

Photo: Vietjet Air

The agency has submitted the plan to re-open those routes from April 23 to 30. Accordingly, on the Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City route, there will be 20 flights per day with Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air each permitted to operate six; and the rest of flights are distributed equally between Jetstar Pacific and Bamboo Airways.

On Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City – Danang routes, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air each will operate three flights per day, Jetstar Pacific and Bamboo Airways each with two flights per day.

In particular, each airline will operate one roundtrip flight per day for routes from Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City to other localities; four roundtrip flights per day on the Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao route; one roundtrip flight per day for routes between localities excluding the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route.

The agency has also asked aviation businesses to continue implementing the government’s preventive measures. They are asked to keep implementing strictly measures on the disease prevention and control such as checking passengers’ health at the airport, requesting online health declaration before the flight, refusing to transport passengers who are suspected of contracting the coronavirus, arranging seats on board in a way to ensure safe distance as regulated.

Crew including pilots, flight attendants and technical staff on all flights are equipped with protective medical equipment. Passengers traveling on the plane are required to wear face masks during the whole flight.