The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport (MoT) has proposed the Prime Minister cut the frequency of flights from southern localities to Hanoi to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Noi Bai - one of the busiest airports in Vietnam. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

Aviation authorities will reduce the frequency of Cantho/Ho Chi Minh City/Phu Quoc-Hanoi routes if the Prime Minister approves the request which was sent by the Hanoi People’s Committee to the MoT earlier.

The MoT offered two adjustment options, of which option one is to suspend the Cantho/Phu Quoc-Hanoi routes. Airlines are allowed to carry a maximum of 800 passengers a day in each direction of the route between Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City, instead of 1,700 currently.

Option two is also to suspend flights between Hanoi and Cantho and the resort island of Phu Quoc but allow only two round-trip flights per day in the HCMC-Hanoi route.

“In order to ensure the successful containment of the Covid-19 outbreak and the safety of people, we recommend the option two,” Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan noted.

Airports in several southern provinces and cities of HCMC, Cantho, Phu Quoc, Rach Gia, Ca Mau and Con Dao are under social distancing measures. All routes to and from Rach Gia, Ca Mau and Con Dao have been halted, starting from July 19, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV)'s decision on July 18.

The CAAV will strictly supervise domestic transportation activities to and from southern provinces and cities until August 1.