HCMC – The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has permitted local carriers to raise their flight frequency on their busiest route between HCMC and Hanoi from today, April 16.
The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines announced that it will operate two daily flights on the route starting today, instead of one flight per day as done over the past two weeks. Meanwhile, its flight frequency on the Danang-Hanoi and HCMC-Danang routes remains unchanged, at one flight per day.
The country’s low-cost airline Jetstar Pacific will also switch to operating one daily flight between Hanoi and HCMC from the previous four flights per week.
At Vietjet, another low-cost carrier, two daily round-trip flights are now available for passengers traveling between Hanoi and HCMC, up by one. Vietjet still offers services on the Hanoi/HCMC-Danang routes with one round trip per day. It also operates 10 cargo-only flights.
To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the carriers’ aircraft are disinfected after they land at airports in Hanoi, Danang and HCMC. Passengers are required to declare their health online and have to undergo health checks before departure. They have to wear face masks and are instructed to keep a certain distance from others while on board.
Further, the airlines will refuse to transport any passengers suspected of having symptoms of coronavirus.
In related news, the HCMC Transport Department in an urgent notice sent to transport operators on April 15 noted that transport vehicles, including coaches, buses, taxis and chartered cars, will continue to be temporarily banned from travelling to and from the city until April 22 in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
By Le Anh
