Usingthe long-range wide-body airliner Airbus A350, flight No VN417 took offfrom Incheon International Airport in the RoK, bringing back about 100passengers, mostly returning Vietnamese and Korean investors and experts.
Earlierin the morning, the outbound flight carried 164 passengers from Hanoi to Seoul.
TheRoK is among the six destinations in Asia with which the VietnameseGovernment has decided to resume international flights since the countrysealed off its borders on March 22, in addition to Japan, China, Taiwan (China),Laos and Cambodia, which have the COVID-19 situation under control.
VoHuy Cuong, Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV),said the flight is a “trial” to see the air transport sector’s operation andcapacity in receiving international passengers.
Thismarks a milestone in Vietnam’s air link resumption, as part of the Government’sdual goals of developing the economy while safely managing the risks ofCOVID-19 in the new normal.
Theresumption of flights received a warm welcome from Vietnamese citizens in theRoK as well as Korean people, particularly business people and investors.
Theflight is operated under strict health protocols to prevent the spread ofcoronavirus, and its success highlights the effective coordination between theairline, the airport, and health agencies.
Beforeboarding, passengers must obtain proof of negative SARS-CoV-2 tests (usingPCR diagnostics) from certified health authorities three days prior todeparture, confirmation of quarantine accommodation in Vietnam, and mandatoryinstallation of Vietnam’s contact tracing app Bluezone and self-completinghealth status app Vietnam Health Declaration on their mobile devices.
Afterthe flight, the passengers will be tested for COVID-19 in Vietnam. If theresults return positive, they will be transported to a local health facility tobe isolated and treated. If the results come back negative, they could continueto quarantine in registered hotels or other accommodations and they would betested again on the sixth day after entry or when suspect symptoms manifest.
Witha negative result on their second test, they would be allowed to travel totheir residence to self-isolate to complete the 14-day quarantine and followthe anti-pandemic measures.
Theaircrew underwent health examination and would also be quarantined for 14 days.
Theaircraft’s passenger sections and cockpit will be sterilised.
VietnamAirlines is working to resume international flights in line with the Government’sdirections and approval from foreign authorities.
Meanwhile,the Korean Government announced on September 24 that air routes between Incheonand Vietnam’s Hanoi and HCM City will be reopened this month, with two flightsa week./.