Flights to carry Vietnamese in nCoV-hit China back home
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam Airlines is resuming
flights between Vietnam and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as from
February 2 after the civil aviation authority permitted the resumption to
repatriate affected passengers at airports in Vietnam and the Chinese territories amid the novel coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak.
The national flag carrier said that it is resuming the
routes between Vietnam and Taiwan as from February 2. It is conducting flights linking
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Hong Kong as scheduled from February 2 through
February 5.
After that, Vietnam Airlines will suspend the Hanoi-Hong
Kong route. The HCM City-Hong Kong route will be maintained after February 5,
but the carrier will keep a close watch on the travel demand to adjust the
flight frequency. Flights between Hanoi and Macau are also resumed on February
2 and will be halted from February 5.
Meanwhile, Jetstar Pacific announced that it is operating
flights between Hanoi and Hong Kong as planned through February 5 and maintain
the Vietnam-Taiwan route.
Vietjet Air said it suspended all flights to and from China
as from February 1. However, all other international routes, including those to Hong Kong and Taiwan, are still operated as normal.
Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan said as Hong Kong,
Macau and Taiwan haven’t been affected much by the nCoV epidemic, his ministry
decided to allow airlines to conduct flights between Vietnam and the three
Chinese territories.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, this
agency has temporarily cancelled the licences granted to flights linking with
China from 6am GMT (1pm Vietnam time) on February 1 until a new announcement is
issued.
However, to handle the large number of passengers stranded
at many destinations in mainland China, Vietnamese airlines are permitted to
conduct some flights to carry them home.
All flights from Vietnam to China to repatriate passengers
will be empty, and the returning flights will carry only Vietnamese passengers
and must land at Van Don airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh. People on those
flights will be isolated and have their health monitored for at least two
weeks, the aviation authority noted./.