Hai Phong 2nd city to say resumption of flights could wait

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) sought the opinions of provinces and cities on gradually resuming domestic flights from Tuesday, and Hai Phong promptly said it is not ready.

The CAAV had suggested 20 return flights daily to the city.

The aviation authority also suggested resuming operations in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, with almost 400 flights a day in all.

On Sept. 29 Hanoi had urged the ministry not to resume flights and trains yet.

Hanoi and Hai Phong are home to the two biggest airports in the north, Noi Bai and Cat Bi.

The ministry last month unveiled a four-phase plan to gradually resume flights to localities where Covid-19 control measures were eased on October 1.

The first phase, planned for no more than 10 days, will see airlines resume flights but with the frequency not exceeding 50 percent of that in the first 10 days of April before the fourth wave of coronavirus began.

Passengers must be socially distanced on planes.

In the second phase, also for no more than 10 days, the frequency can be increased to 70 percent.

The third would see the frequency return to but not exceed the level in the first week of April, and no distancing will be required.

In the final phase, airlines' operations will return to normal.

Meanwhile, flights only carry cargo or officials doing public work.