Implement vaccine passport scheme early, aviation association pleads

"We propose that the government relaxes travel and quarantine restrictions as well as immigration policies for vaccinated people," the Vietnam Aviation Business Association (VABA) says in its proposal.

The government should plan to resume international flights soon, it adds.

Several countries in the E.U. have recently approved vaccine passport schemes. Vietnam plans to trial its vaccine passport program in July in the northern province of Quang Ninh, reducing the quarantine period for vaccinated or recovered foreign arrivals to seven days.

VABA also proposes low-interest loans to aid the recovery of carriers in the country, which has been hard hit by pandemic imposed travel bans and restrictions. The proposal mentions 12-month loans of VND5-6 trillion ($217-260 million) for each airline.

The three main carriers in the country, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Bamboo Airways, posted a combined loss of VND16 trillion last year, it notes.

Their short-term debt stands at VND36 trillion now. Their revenues plunged 90 percent year-on-year in May and June, it adds.