Vietnam increases domestic flights from December to meet year-end travel demand

In the remaining half of next month, the number of daily flights on each of the Hanoi-HCMC, Hanoi-Da Nang and Da Nang-HCMC routes will increase further to 20.

The ministry also agreed to increase flight frequency on other domestic routes to nine a day from the current four.

The government allowed airlines to resume all domestic routes on Oct. 21, but with reduced frequency.

Between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, they currently operate a maximum of six flights a day either way.

Last week, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam sought approval from the ministry to increase flight frequency among major cities to cater to higher travel demand during the year-end peak season.

Currently, passengers need to satisfy one of three conditions: a negative test within 72 hours prior, a certificate showing they are fully vaccinated with the second shot taken between 14 days and 12 months or a certificate proving they recovered from Covid-19 not within six months before.

But those from high-risk or locked-down areas, along with HCMC and Can Tho need to furnish a negative coronavirus test before boarding, even if they have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19.

Passengers are required to make a medical declaration before boarding, using the PC-COVID application. Passengers will not be allowed to board the flight if they show symptoms of a cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle ache, sore throat and loss of taste.

Between Oct. 21 and Nov. 18, domestic carriers operated 44 domestic routes with 2,207 round-trip flights, transporting 446,805 passengers. The average seat occupancy rate was 54 percent.

The government also plans to resume international flights to 15 countries and territories with high vaccination rates from December.