Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Domestics airlines have said they are ready for therestart of international flights, after routes to and from foreign destinationswere closed for almost half a year to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Nationalflag carrier Vietnam Airlines has completed formulating plans and announcedschedules for flights to Japan, with the first departing on September 18, headof its public relations department Dang Anh Tuan told the Vietnam News Agency.

Thecarrier will only conduct one-way flights, from Vietnam to Japan, however,while awaiting for the Ministry of Health (MoH)'s issuance of directions on the returnleg, Tuan said.

He added thatthe MoH has made a proposal on providing guidelines on how to safely operateinbound flights, which is now subject to comment from the National SteeringCommittee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control before being finalised.

Low-cost carrierVietjet Air said it will reopen regular international flights to Japan, theRepublic of Korea (RoK), and Taiwan (China) from September 29.

Each week, it willconduct one flight from HCM City to Tokyo on Tuesday, one from HCM City to Seoulon Wednesday, and one from Hanoi to Taipei, Taiwan (China) on Thursday.

BambooAirways, meanwhile, also plans to resume flights to Taiwan (China) and the RoK inSeptember and October while launching new routes to Japan, Singapore, and Australiain the fourth quarter of this year and Germany and the UK in the first quarterof 2021.

Earlier, DeputyPrime Minister Pham Binh Minh gave his permission to the resumption of regularinternational passenger flights between Vietnam and certain countries andterritories.

Accordingly,air routes to Guangzhou (China), Taiwan (China), Seoul, and Tokyo restarted onSeptember 15 and those to Phnom Penh and Vientiane will follow, from September22.

Themaximum number of flights on each route will not exceed two per week, which maybe increased depending on the situation.

The CivilAviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has been assigned to work with agenciesunder the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and partners from China, Japan, the RoK,Taiwan (China), Cambodia, and Laos to discuss those are eligible toenter Vietnam and the requirements to be placed on them, as well as entryprocedures.

ꦡ Beforeboarding flights to Vietnam, passengers must have their temperature checked,install the NCOVI health declaration app, and obtain a certificate issued bylocal authorities stating they have tested negative for the coronavirus./.