According to an announcement by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), from June 16 to September 16, Vietnam has not granted permission for inbound flights, except for specific cases, Zing reported.

Vietnam has not granted permission for inbound flights, except for specific cases. Photo: Vietnam Airlines.

Specific cases include entry for diplomatic and official purposes, experts, business executives and highly qualified workers and those cases specified by the National Steering Committee for the Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

The committee has recently stressed the importance of continuing tightening the control of border lines and people on entry so as to prevent the pandemic from spreading in the community.

According to Luong Hoai Nam, member of the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), reopening international routes should not be a one-way move. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should negotiate the air travel resumption on mutual basis between Vietnam and the counterpart countries.

An aviation expert said the reopening of international air routes in July is very unlikely as negotiations between Vietnam and other countries on the issue have not been finalized yet. 

Meanwhile, the government and aviation enterprises are trying to find ways to resume air travel soon.

Governments of Vietnam and South Korea, Japan and China are discussing step-by-step reconnection of air services based on the demand of each side as well as in compliance with measures to prevent the outbreak of Covid-19, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ statement on June 18.

Vietnamese air carriers announced on June 14 plans to reopen international routes to destinations where the pandemic is under control from July 1, if authorized by the government.