The first international flight to Viet Nam, operated by Vietnam Airlines, landed at Noi Bai International Airport on September 25 after the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak was controlled. – Photo Vietnam Airlines

The Ministry of Transport plans to open an additional nine international flights landing at Ha Noi’s Noi Bai Airport and HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport.

This is a part of a proposal the ministry sent to the two major cities’ people’s committees on the scheduling of regular international commercial flights between Viet Nam and other countries. On the basis of suggestions from the two cities, the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam will consider and license flights.

These flights will be conducted by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and budget carrier Vietjet Air.

It is expected that there will be four weekly flights landing in Ha Noi on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with a maximum of 1,304 seats, and five flights landing in HCM City on the same days with a maximum 1,290 seats.

After Viet Nam successfully controlled the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic early last month, Vietnam Airlines opened a passenger flight on the Ha Noi-Seoul-Ha Noi route on September 25, while Vietjet Air opened a flight between HCM City and Seoul on September 30.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam last month sent letters to its partners in mainland China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan announcing its re-opening plan. All partners have agreed with this plan, however only South Korea moved forward with the flights.

For South Korea, Korean Air operated flights on October 9 from Incheon to/from HCM City and vice versa, while Asiana Airlines operated flights from Incheon to/from Ha Noi on October 7 and will conduct more flights on October 21, as well as operating to/from HCM City on October 1 and October 15.

China appointed China Southern Airlines (CZ) to operate the Guangzhou-HCM City route with a frequency of one trip per week. Japan assigned Japan Airlines (JL) and All Nippon Airways (NH) to operate alternately from Tokyo to Ha Noi and HCM City with a frequency of one flight per week per route.

Taiwan (China) appointed China Airlines (CI) and Eva Air (BR) to operate Taipei to Ha Noi and HCM City with a frequency of one flight per week per route.

In terms of check-in procedures at foreign airports to Viet Nam, the airlines will carry out check-in procedures when the passengers meet requirements.

For Vietnamese citizens, passengers must have valid passports and specific accommodation in Viet Nam during the period of isolation. The accommodation addresses must be on the list assigned by the Ha Noi People's Committee and HCM City People's Committee. They must have certificate of negative tests for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time PCR method issued by the host country.

For foreigners, the passengers must have a passport or a valid international travel document recognised by Viet Nam and have a valid visa or temporary residence card with the Immigration Department’s official letter approving the foreigners’ entry to Viet Nam or document approving the application for a visa at the international border gate in valid entry period, specific place of stay in Viet Nam (factories, corporate headquarters, hotel or other accommodation facility announced and approved by the People's Committee of Ha Noi and HCM City People's Committee), and certificate of negative test for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time PCR method by the host country.

The airlines have to send northern and southern airport authorities the planned list of passengers 12 hours before the flights take off and the official list of passengers 30 minutes before departure. – VNS