Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced it will temporarily suspend services between Vietnam and France starting March 17 until further notice from the competent authorities, due to a rising number of coronavirus infections in France and limited operating conditions.

A Vietname Airlines airplane. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

The routes connecting Vietnam with the UK and Germany will continue operating as planned, the carrier said in a release on Tuesday evening.

The airline last weekend 15 said it will continue to bring passengers from Europe to Vietnam from March 15 to “uphold its national responsibilities and continue to grant passengers access to Vietnam,” only hours after its announcement to fly empty from that market to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Only passengers meeting all immigration and health requirements are allowed to board Vietnam Airlines flights.

In a latest move to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Vietnamese government has decided to suspend entry of visitors from the UK and 26 Schengen countries.

In Southeast Asia, the airline will temporarily suspend flights between Vietnam and Malaysia from March 18 to March 31 after the Malaysian government’s decision to temporarily close borders and the neighboring country has become a new epicenter of the virus outbreak in Southeast Asia.

The airline added it will consider reducing its Southeast Asia routes based on developments of the Covid-19 pandemic and the latest entry and quarantine regulations of the government of Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines will waive fees for itinerary and date changes for affected passengers on flights between Vietnam and France departing from March 18 through June 30, 2020. Fees will also be waived for date changes on flights between Vietnam and Malaysia departing from March 18 through 31.