Vietnam eases domestic flight restrictions further; eyes Singapore air links

Vietnam will allow airlines to increase flight frequencies on major domestic routes through end-November, as the country eyes restoring regular flights with Singapore. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), in a 21 October notice, says the frequency increase will apply to three routes — Ho Chi Minh City-Hanoi, Hanoi-Da Nang, as well as Ho Chi Minh City-Da Nang. From 21 October to 14 November, the CAAV will allow up to six flights a day, with an additional daily flight allowed from 15 November until the end of the month. The authority did not disclose how flight frequencies would be distributed among domestic carriers, which include flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, low-cost carrier VietJet Air, as well as privately-owned Bamboo Airways. As for other domestic routes, the CAAV maintains its previous guidelines which stipulate that each carrier only be allocated one daily flight per way, per route. Passengers travelling on domestic flights have to be fully-vaccinated, or be certified to have fully recovered from a coronavirus infection, or be tested negative up to 72 hours before travelling. The capacity upgauge comes two weeks after the country allowed domestic flights to resume, following a particularly severe wave of coronavirus infections. Separately, Vietnam has agreed to work with Singapore towards reopening commercial flights between both countries. <br/>