Many Vietnam-South Korea flights cancelled.

On February 24, South Korean officials announced 231 new cases of coronavirus infection, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 833. Most of the infections are concentrated in Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city, and the neighboring North Gyeongsang province.

Responding quickly to the evolving Covid-19 situation in South Korea, all Vietnamese airlines have made decisions to adjust flight frequencies or cancel flights.

Specifically regarding Daegu, the epicenter of the outbreak, as of now, only Vietjet Air operates this route in Vietnam to fulfill its contract to transport South Korean passengers from Vietnam back to Daegu. However, a representative from Vietjet Air also stated that the airline plans to temporarily suspend the Daegu - Da Nang route from February 25th to March 28th. All other airlines, including Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and Jetstar Pacific, do not have flights to Daegu, South Korea.

Although the aviation authorities have not yet decided to suspend flights to and from South Korea, flights between the two countries are decreasing in frequency due to a sharp drop in customer demand caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. Besides Vietnamese airlines, only Tway Air of South Korea is currently operating flights from Daegu to Vietnam. However, due to the sharp decline in demand, the airline has canceled flights from Daegu to Hanoi and Da Nang between February 18th and March 28th; and canceled flights between Daegu and Nha Trang from February 23rd to March 28th. Therefore, starting from February 25th, Vietnam no longer has any flights to or from Daegu, the epicenter of the outbreak.

Besides the route with Daegu, Vietnamese airlines have also begun reducing flight frequencies and canceling 50% of flights between Vietnam and South Korea from February 17th to March 28th. Bamboo Airways announced it will temporarily suspend flights on the Da Nang - Incheon and Nha Trang - Incheon routes from February 26th until the epidemic is under control. This is the first Vietnamese airline to suspend all flights to South Korea.

According to Vietnam Airlines, the airline has suspended flights between Da Nang and Incheon, and between Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) and Incheon. Flights between Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City and Incheon, and Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City and Busan, are still maintained, but the frequency has been significantly reduced due to a decrease in passenger numbers. Specifically, flights VN 414 and 415 to and from Incheon International Airport (Seoul, South Korea) and Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi, Vietnam) on February 26th and 28th; March 4th and 6th; March 8th and 12th; March 18th and 19th; and March 25th and 26th will be temporarily suspended.

Regarding foreign airlines, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam announced that Korean Air will suspend flights KE 483 and KE 484 on the Incheon - Noi Bai route from February 25th to March 23rd. Air Seoul also announced the temporary suspension of the Hanoi - Seoul route from March 1st to March 28th. The airline will also assist with refunds and ticket changes for passengers. Currently, the airline still operates flights between Seoul and Da Nang, and Nha Trang. Previously, Asiana Airlines also suspended the Seoul - Hanoi route on flights OZ 727 and 728 from February 18th to March 9th. T'Way Air will suspend all flights to and from Hanoi and South Korea from now until March 28th.

South Korea is the second largest source of tourists to Vietnam, after China. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in the first nine months of 2019, 3.1 million South Korean tourists visited Vietnam, accounting for approximately 24.4% of international visitors.

My Tong