The Ministry of Transport in Vietnam has announced on Tuesday the 19th the approval to increase domestic flights. After the success in phase one of the domestic resumption plan to recover from Covid, Hanoi has decided that airlines are allowed to resume up to 48 routes starting from the 21st of November.
Since July, Vietnam was struck by the fourth wave of Covid-19 and domestic flights came to a halt with the exception of flights transporting healthcare and military personnel. Earlier in September, the Ministry of Transport has proposed the outline of a four-phase resumption plan to revive domestic flights following the release of strict lockdown measures in early October. Phase one, which implemented measures like distanced seating and lowered flight frequency, was deemed successful, and airlines are now allowed to proceed to phase two of the resumption plan. Phase two will enable airlines to operate flights not exceeding 70% of the number of flights on the 10th of April, with it being a reference point of how the industry was left off before the fourth wave hit. The Ministry of Transport will coordinate with the Ministry of Health to assess the progression to phase three of the plan to allow the number of flights to increase up to but not exceed 100% on the 10th of April. The fourth and final phase will release all restrictions and allow airlines to operate similarly to pre-Covid times.
Launching of Phase Two
Starting from today, Vietnam’s phase two of the domestic resumption plan will be in effect tentatively until the 30th of November to help recover from Covid. This phase allows airlines to increase the number of flights, but a set of preventive measures are required for passengers to travel on these domestic flights. Vietnam’s leading LCC Vietjet has proposed “green” procedures referring to the green status of passengers who are fully vaccinated. Passengers travelling on domestic routes will be required to present medical declaration, vaccination certificates and negative Covid-19 test before boarding. Alongside thousands of zero dollars flight tickets, the airlines will also provide free quick testing for passengers departing from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi starting tomorrow on the 22nd of November as part of the new “live with Covid” normality in aviation, the airlines will provide hygiene products and nutritious food and beverage on board to support the “green” procedures of travelling. Until the 30th of November, Vietjet will resume its domestic network to up to 48 routes to help get citizens to travel to-and-from major cities in order to contribute to the economic recovery and development.
Vietnam’s flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, together with its affiliates Pacific Airlines and VASCO, has announced that they expect the selling of tickets later today. The Vietnam Airline Group will operate flights in phase two with up to 40 routes until the end of November, similar to its competitor Vietjet. To be accepted on the flight, passengers are required to meet one of the following conditions: fully vaccinated; have a certificate of recovery from Covid-19 or hospital discharge, or provide a negative quick test 72 hours before the time of departure.
No More Centralised Quarantine for Hanoi
Prior to the 12th of October, passengers arriving from Ho Chi Minh City were required to mandate a seven-days centralised quarantine but the requirement was lifted suddenly to the travellers’ delight. As for now, passengers arriving in Hanoi from Ho Chi Minh City are still required to be quarantined at home for a period of seven days.
Whilst Asian countries are reopening their border progressively, we are seeing Vietnam taking cautious steps into the preparation to compete for the tourism demand and the quick recovery of the domestic and international aviation industry in the near future. Which is your favourite city in Vietnam?
