Limit combo charter flights to Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai: aviation agency

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) revealed that between Jan. 4 and 7 a total 47 international flights carried over 6,000 passengers to Vietnam.

Of this, 15 flights with over 1,285 passengers landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City while 23 others carrying 2,950 passengers touched down at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, resulting in the overload of rapid Covid testing sites.

All passengers from Omicron-hit countries are now required to undergo rapid Covid testing upon arrival in Vietnam.

Therefore, CAAV wants combo charter flights to be diverted to smaller airports until the requirement for visitors from Omicron-hit regions to be tested before boarding and after exiting planes is lifted.

Vietnam had closed its borders and grounded all regular international flights in March 2020, only allowing in its nationals and foreign experts, investors and highly skilled workers arriving on special flights.

On Jan. 1 this year, Vietnam reopened regular flights connecting Hanoi, HCMC with Bangkok, Phnom Penh, San Francisco, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, and Vientiane.