Plans are in place to resume some regular international flight routes to Vietnam, almost two years after they were halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first flight to Japan is scheduled to be operated by the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines on January 5, and by Vietjet Air and All Nippon Airways on January 6. —VNA/VNS Photo |
The first regular international route to resume will be the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines flying to Japan on January 5, 2022. Vietjet Air and All Nippon Airways will resume flights on January 6, 2022.
Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan said that it was impossible for this route to resume sooner, due to the Japanese New Year holiday which means that testing facilities are not operating.
However, only those eligible for entry to Japan will be able to fly. A ten-day quarantine on the Japanese side is still required.
Taiwan (China) also agreed to restart flights, according to a letter sent on December 24 to the Vietnamese authority. Taiwan authorities have suggested at least five flights a week.
On December 27, the aviation authorities of Singapore issued a written agreement that Vietnam Airlines can operate two flights per week. As well as this, Vietjet Air will operate one flight per week and Pacific Airlines will operate one flight per week to the city state.
On December 28, the Cambodian side agreed in writing, after requesting more information from Vietnam about the proposal. Vietnam Airlines will operate four flights per week.
Vietnam Airlines has already been licensed by the aviation authorities of both Vietnam and the United States to operate regular flights between the two countries. The airline has been cleared to immediately begin flights as planned and does not need any further approval.
Negotiations on restarting flights to other countries are still ongoing. The Thai aviation authorities received a request on December 27 regarding the resumption of flights to Vietnam, but an official response has not yet…