Vietnam reopens one-way flights to Japan

Vietnam Airlines (VN, Hanoi) will operate one-way commercial flights from Vietnam to Japan for the remainder of September 2020, while preparing for the resumption of schedules to South Korea, China, Taiwan, Laos and Cambodia pending government approval in the near future, the airline said. The airline, in a statement, said this was the first phase of its recovery plan. It had suspended all scheduled international passenger flights on April 30, 2020, as the country closed its borders to contain the spread of COVID-19. ”The reinstitution of regular international flights is a positive sign for Vietnam as well as Vietnam Airlines as the pandemic is showing signs of being under control in many countries,” it said. The one-way flights would serve passengers wishing to work, study and stay in Japan. Flights from Hanoi to Tokyo Narita would depart on September 18, 25 and 30, with an additional flight from Ho Chi Minh City on September 30, 2020. All flights would be operated with B787-9s. As per Vietnamese COVID-19 health regulations, the aircraft would be disinfected, and flight crew would undergo health checks and 14-day quarantine on return to Vietnam. The airline said return flights from Japan were planned to be sold, pending COVID-19 developments and approval from the relevant authorities. It also confirmed it was “building a plan to resume flights to South Korea, China, Taiwan, Laos, and Cambodia”. Since June 2020, the airline has operated several one-way repatriation flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Seoul Incheon and Frankfurt Int’l. It had also reconfigured passenger planes to carry cargo to help generate revenue during the lockdown.