Planes at Noi Bai International Airport in Ha Noi. —VNA/VNS Photo

Domestic flights officially resumed on October 1 under a four-phase plan outlined by the Ministry of Transport, which applies in localities with relaxed COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

In the first phase, to be carried over 10 days, airlines would resume air routes with a flight frequency not exceeding half of that in the first 10 days of April, the time before the fourth coronavirus wave broke out in Viet Nam. Passengers on the planes must be distanced as well.

In the second phase, to last for no more than 10 days, the frequency would increase to up to 70 per cent of the frequency in April. No seat distancing is required.

The third phase would see the flight frequency return to the level seen in the first 10 days of April (but not exceeding it), with no seat distancing required.

The final phase would see airlines resume activities as normal.

Air routes that had only one flight a day even pre-pandemic can resume operations as normal in the first and second phases, with seat distancing required.

Passengers must follow the “5K message”, make health declarations, and present a negative COVID-19 test result issued within 72 hours before departure.

However, passengers who had the first vaccine shot three weeks ago, or those who were fully vaccinated or recovered from the disease within six months are exempt from COVID-19 testing.

The Ministry of Transport requested airlines to offer hand sanitisers to passengers, ask them to wear masks during the flight, and disinfect high-contact surfaces of planes such as door handles and seats after each flight. — VNS