HCMC – Lam Dong Province has asked for the national transport authority’s approval to operate five flights to bring home over 500 residents including pregnant women and their relatives from the southern provinces, where the latest Covid pandemic is raging.
As the Lien Khuong airport in Lam Dong is under suspension to serve the fight against Covid-19, the provincial government recently sent an urgent dispatch to the Transport Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), proposing they consider granting permission for the flights, which will be operated by local carrier Bamboo Airways.
These expectant women are local residents of Lam Dong but working in HCMC, Can Tho and the neighboring localities. If the request is approved, the Central Highlands province will make arrangements to take 297 pregnant women and 236 of their relatives home, so that the women can give birth in their hometown.
Last night, August 31, the Transport Ministry asked CAAV to take Lam Dong’s request into consideration and directed Bamboo Airways to arrange flights to transport Lam Dong’s pregnant women and their relatives home.
However, the ministry added that the operation of the flights must be agreed upon by the authorities of departure localities, including HCMC and the southern provinces, and the provincial government of Lam Dong as the destination locality. The flights must also comply with social distancing requirements and anti-virus measures.
The flights are expected to be operated on September 4 at the HCMC-based Tan Son Nhat airport, once essential procedures are completed.
