HANOI – Vietnam will resume some 40 domestic air routes from October 21, but with a limited flight frequency, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) announced on October 20.
The CAAV said the Ministry of Transport has approved the plan for the resumption of domestic air routes from October 21 to November 30, 2021, following which the country will increase the flight frequency on major domestic air routes and resume routes that have been suspended for a long time.
According to the plan, airlines are allowed to operate up to six flights a day on the Hanoi-HCMC, Hanoi-Danang and Danang-HCMC routes from October 21 to November 14 and up to seven flights a day from November 15 to 30.
They can also operate no more than four flights a day on other domestic routes.
The CAAV will monitor the Covid-19 situation in each city or province and on a nationwide scale to adjust the flight frequency.
Vietnam Airlines Group, which comprises three carriers — Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and VASCO, announced that it will resume flights on most domestic routes.
From October 21 to November 30, Vietnam Airlines Group will operate flights on some 40 routes nationwide, including new routes to Con Dao, Dien Bien, Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku and Lam Dong.
The flight frequency will gradually rise depending on the Covid situation. Vietnam Airlines Group expected to operate over 90 flights a day from October 21 to the end of October and then 120 flights a day in November.
Lost-cost carrier Vietjet Air will also resume flights on most domestic routes.
Regarding requirements for air passengers, if they come from areas at an extremely high risk of Covid transmission or under lockdown, they must have proof of a negative PCR/rapid test result taken within 72 hours before departure.
The other passengers need to meet one of the following three requirements to be eligible to fly: have proof of complete vaccination, with the second dose taken at least 14 days earlier and no more than 12 months before departure; have certificates showing they have recovered from Covid within the last six months or have proof of a negative test result taken within 72 hours before departure.
