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On September 8th, the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Dinh Viet Thang, submitted a report to the Ministry of Transport requesting approval of the plan for operating regular flights during the pandemic.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, domestic air transport operations currently only include cargo flights and flights combining cargo transport for official duties, COVID-19 prevention and control forces, and cases with written approval from relevant localities.
In order to ensure the task of epidemic prevention and control and maintain air transport operations, avoiding disruption to the economy, the Civil Aviation Authority reports to the Ministry of Transport the plan for organizing regular domestic passenger flights during the epidemic prevention and control period as follows:
The 22 airports nationwide are divided into three groups: A, B, and C.
- Group A airports (green zone) include airports in provinces and cities without areas subject to social distancing measures under Directive 16, such as Van Don Airport (Quang Ninh) and the seaplane landing sites in Ha Long Bay, Cat Bi (Hai Phong), and Dien Bien.
- Group B airports (yellow zone) are airports in provinces and cities where social distancing is only applied at the district level or higher according to Directive 16, including: Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi), Tho Xuan (Thanh Hoa), Dong Hoi (Quang Binh), Vinh (Nghe An), Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), Phu Bai (Thua Thien-Hue), Pleiku (Gia Lai), Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen), Chu Lai (Quang Nam), Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak), Con Dao (Ba Ria-Vung Tau), Vung Tau airport (helicopter service), and Lien Khuong (Lam Dong).
- Group C airports (red zone) are airports located in provinces and cities currently implementing full social distancing measures according to Directive 16, including: Da Nang airport, Phu Cat airport (Binh Dinh), Tan Son Nhat airport (Ho Chi Minh City), Can Tho airport, Phu Quoc airport (Kien Giang), Ca Mau airport, and Rach Gia airport (Kien Giang).
Phase 1A pilot program will be implemented four weeks after the plan is approved. Accordingly, flights from group A to groups A, B, and C will have no passenger limit. Passengers must have tested negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours.
For flights from group B to groups A, B, and C; and from group C to groups A and B, passengers who are on official business or involved in Covid-19 prevention and control efforts only need to have a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours.
Other passengers must have a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours and meet one of the following conditions: a certificate of completion of quarantine and direct transportation by designated vehicle from the quarantine facility to the departure airport; or a certificate of full Covid-19 vaccination, with the last dose administered at least 14 days and no more than 12 months prior to departure; or a certificate confirming recovery from Covid-19 no more than 12 months prior to departure.
For flights between Group C airports, this applies only to business travelers, COVID-19 prevention and control personnel, and passengers with written permission from the departure and arrival localities. Passengers must have tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours.
The Civil Aviation Authority noted that during this period, airlines are only allowed to sell tickets for flights with departure dates within 4 weeks of the date the plan is approved by the Ministry of Transport.
During the implementation of phase 1, the Civil Aviation Authority will monitor the process and evaluate the practical results. If the first 4 weeks of the pilot program go smoothly,phase 2Flights will be operated with the same passenger composition as in Phase 1. In addition to the medical and epidemiological documents as in Phase 1, passengers traveling between these airport groups in Phase 2 may use confirmation of stay in an area not subject to social distancing measures under Directive 16 for at least 14 days prior to travel.
The Civil Aviation Authority noted that for phase 2, airlines are only allowed to sell tickets to passengers "with confirmation of stay in an area not subject to social distancing under Directive 16 for at least 14 days prior to travel" on flights with departure dates within 4 weeks of the start of phase 2.
