Vietnam prepares to restore selected international flight routes

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam was advised to submit the plan before June 10. The ministry will have to submit to the Prime Minister for decision.

Vietnam has restored domestic air routes, but routes have continued to close due to the pandemic situation in other countries. The country has suspended international flights since March 25 and banned entries of foreign nationals since March 22.

While shutting down international routes, the government granted permission for some flights that repatriated Vietnamese citizens stranded abroad.

From early May, the aviation market gradually recovered with the number of local flights began to increase. There are about 644 flights day. It is expected that in May, the domestic flight will resume 60%, reported Vietnam Airport Corporation.

In May, the number of passengers through the airport nationwide reached 2.88 million passengers, down 70% compared to the same period in 2019, according to data from the Vietnam Aviation Administration.

Vietnam’s aviation sector is expected to carry 42.7 million passengers in 2020, a decrease of 46 percent from 2019, doubling of the worst-case-scenario forecast that the transport ministry had made in February.

Vietnam reported no new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, marking the 41st consecutive day with no community infections.

Among the country’s total 327 infections, 187 imported cases were quarantined upon their arrival, posing no risk of community transmission. 

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