Ho Chi Minh City's Domestic Flights will Resume on Oct 10

Several localities, including Ho Chi Minh City, have agreed to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam's (CAA) plan to resume domestic flight routes.

Hanoi, however, has not provided a reply to the agency's plans for Nội Bài International Airport. The capital also asked the CAA to clarify many issues regarding pandemic safety regulations, including criteria for travelers, and transportation vehicles for travelers from the airport to other localities.

Noi Bai International Airport is one of two largest travel hubs in Vietnam. Photo: Zing

According to aviation company representatives, Hanoi is one of two aviation hubs with the highest traffic in the country, the other being Ho Chi Minh City. Thus, plans to restart domestic flights from aviation companies largely relies on Hanoi's decision to reopen flight routes to and from Noi Bai.

A Vietnam Airlines representative said that the airline has presented the CAA with a flight route usage plan. The plan will take off after being approved by the agency and agreed upon by different localities, tentatively by October 10th.

Bamboo Airways is also awaiting an official decision from Hanoi and the CAA's flight slot allocation to provide appropriate service packages. In particular, the Hanoi - Dien Bien route was planned to be opened by Bamboo Airways at the beginning of October 2021, but has to postpone a permission from Hanoi is given, despite Dien Bien's aviation resumption.

Ho Chi Minh City suggests resumption of Hanoi route

On October 4th, Deputy President of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Le Hoa Binh has responded to the plan to reopen regular domestic flight routes in the Covid-19 pandemic by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAA).

Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has generally finalized plans to open regular domestic flights routes in the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as suggestions for some specific details.

On flight frequencies, the Committee suggested following the Ministry of Transportation's instructions on transportation of 5 different types of transportation (road, railroad, domestic waterways, sea, and aviation), ensuring safety, flexibility, and control of the Covid-19 pandemic, taking different localities' pandemic situation in account.

"About the Ho Chi Minh - Hanoi route, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee suggests opening some round trips within the week to relieve some travel needs between key southern economic regions and Hanoi city, as well as Northern provinces," according to the document.

Ho Chi Minh - Hanoi flights are suggested to resume. Photo: Internet

Regarding Tan Son Nhat International Airport's activities, the Committee requires it follows the city's transportation safety criteria in the Covid-19 pandemic. Passengers are required to follow the Committee's Directive 18 regarding prolonged pandemic control and solutions, and city-wide socioeconomic recovery.

Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee suggests: "The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam should establish a working touchpoint with Hồ Chí Minh City Transportation Department regarding reopening regular domestic flight routes, in accordance to the city's Covid-19 situation."

As of 18:00 of October 4th, Ho Chi Minh City is the 7th locality to send their response to the CAA. According to which, 2 provinces have rejected the plan which are Hai Phong and Gia Lai. The 5 provinces agreeing to the resumption from October 5th are Ho Chi Minh City, Dien Bien, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, and Binh Dinh.

Previously, the Ministry of Transportation's plan to reopen domestic flight routes after lifting social distancing at select localities were sent to 19 cities and provinces at which flights are suggested to resume. The localities are: Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Can Tho, Quang Ninh, Nghe An, Dien Bien, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Lam Đong, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Ca Mau.

The total number of domestic flights to resume is 385 round trips/day, in which Ho Cií Minh City resumes 18 routes, accounting for 132 round trips/day. Da Nang plans to resumes 10 routes to different localities.

Đà Nẵng will also be resuming domestic flights to the city. Photo: Internet

Dinh Viet Thang, Head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam admitted that difficulties in realizing the plan lies in different localities' reception. "Resuming transportation is vital not only to aviation. We suggest the Ministry of Transportation to submit a national plan to the Government, rather than causing more difficulties by applying different localities' different plans," said Thang at a Ministry of Transportation meeting on September 29th.

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