Vietnamese carriers to service domestic routes starting Sunday

Vietnam Airlines said Thursday that the national flag carrier and Pacific Airlines plan to resume flights on seven domestic routes from Sunday after receiving approval from aviation authorities.

There will be one daily return flight from HCMC to popular beach hotspots Thanh Hoa, Nha Trang, Tuy Hoa, Quy Nhon and Phu Quoc.

There will be one return flight a week from HCMC to Hue and two weekly one-way flights from Vinh to HCMC.

"The airline will open ticket sales throughout its system including website, mobile application, agents and ticket offices as soon as it receives approval from aviation authorities," the group said.

Budget airline Vietjet Air is also planning to resume once a week return flights from HCMC to Quy Nhon, Thanh Hoa, Tuy Hoa, Phu Quoc and Nha Trang.

From Thanh Hoa to Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, there will be two weekly flights each.

Bamboo Airways said it is awaiting a final decision from aviation authorities to announce its resumption plan.

So far, 14 of 20 surveyed localities including HCMC and Da Nang have agreed with aviation authorities on resuming domestic flights while Hanoi, Hai Phong and Gia Lai have want the resumption delayed. Da Nang just voiced its agreement on Thursday afternoon.

With the agreement of localities, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has proposed to the Transport Ministry that service resumes on 10 domestic routes starting this Sunday. After receiving approval from the ministry, CAAV will grant flight licenses to the airlines.

To fly, passengers need to be fully vaccinated, with the second dose administered at least 14 days but no more than 12 months prior or show a certificate proving they had contracted and recovered from the disease no more than six months prior.

In addition, passengers coming from ‘red zones,’ deemed to be at very high risk of spreading the novel coronavirus, must furnish a negative Covid certificate with the PCR or rapid test done within 72 hours before departure.

Those departing from southern localities like HCMC, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long Nai, the country’s biggest coronavirus hotspots, have to furnish a negative Covid certificate with tests done within 72 hours before departure and would have their health monitored at home or place of residence for seven days after arrival. They would be tested twice on the first and seventh day.