Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, the Deputy Minister said the proposal was submitted following meetings between the MoT anddomestic carriers namely Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and concerningministries.
He said all airlines and airport operators asked for resuming regular international passengers flights. The airlines also suggested lifting quarantine rules for fully vaccinated travellers or those having recovered fromthe COVID-19, who have negative virus test results taken within 72 hours prior totheir travel, Tuan said.
International airports have got themselves ready to welcomeback regular international flights, with 100 percent of employees vaccinatedagainst the virus and issuance of COVID-19 hygiene guidelines, he added.
The deputy minister further noted that the Ministry ofHealth has been drafting a guideline on relaxing quarantine rules for arrivals,which is expected soon to be released, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hasbeen accelerating talks with foreign counterparts on the mutual recognition of “vaccinepassport.”
The Ministry of Public Security has also been developing anintegrated mobile app for immigration reviews, health declaration andvaccination certification, the deputy minister said.
For the part of airlines, in a letter sent to the Prime Minister proposing theresumption of international air routes, Chairman of the Board of Directors ofVietnam Airlines Dang Ngoc Hoa pointed out multiple risks Vietnam is likely toface if international flights will not be reopened anytime soon.
Vietnam may lose its competitive edges in the eyes of notonly tourists but also investors, Hoa said. Aviation and tourism firms inVietnam are struggling, he noted, adding that they are on the brink ofbankruptcy and losing competitive advantages to regional rivals, making post-pandemicrecovery even harder.
Vietjet Air Deputy Director-General Nguyen Van Son said it iscritical for Vietnam to early resume international flights, particularly from/tocountries with high vaccination rate.
Data shows that the aviation sector served 13.4 millionpassengers in the first 10 months of this year, just equal to 22.5 percent ofthe pre-pandemic level (2019).
The number of air travellers only totalled 2.1 million betweenMay and mid-November when the country was hit by the fourth COVID-19 wave,equivalent to 5.8 percent of 2019’s figure. The foreign arrivals only accountedfor 1 percent of the pre-pandemic level./.
VNA
