The national flag carrier has prepared resources to serve the markets, with the initial weekly frequency of about two flights on each route, according to a representative from Vietnam Airlines.
The restoration would help the corporation bring into full play its aircraft fleet, cut operational costs and consolidate its position, while preventing the risk of domination by international airlines at gateways.
Under a plan mapped out by the Ministry of Transport, regular international flights from/to Vietnam will be resumed in two phases, with air travel with nine foreign destinations to be available again in the first phase and fifteen in the second phase.
Vietnam will restore regular international air routes with Beijing/Guangxi (China), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (the Republic of Korea), Taipei (Taiwan, China), Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Vientiane (Laos), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), and San Francisco/Los Angeles (the US).
During the second phase, flights will be likely to reconnect Vietnam with six more other foreign destinations, including Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hong Kong (China), Paris (France), Frankfurt (Germany), Sydney (Australia) and Moscow (Russia).
Concerned authorities will evaluate the implementation of the plan before allowing regular international flights to reach the pre-pandemic level.
According to a new guidance issued by the Ministry of Health, fully vaccinated foreign arrivals with negative COVID-19 test results will only need to self-quarantine at home or places of accommodation for three days upon entry into Vietnam by air.
The new regulations will be effective from January 1, 2022, the day Vietnam is set to resume regular international flights on a pilot basis.
