Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Ministry of Transport will consider the reopening ofinternational flight routes to countries and territories which have no newcases of COVID-19 in the community for 30 consecutive days, according to aministry official.

The official, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Vietnam NewsAgency that priority will be given to Japan, the Republic of Korea, China(mainland) and Taiwan (China) and some Southeast Asian countries whichhave controlled the disease.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is taking place in many countries around the world.Under the Government’s direction, the reopening of international flights needsto be considered carefully."

The resumption of international flights is scheduled to begin at the end ofJuly, according to a proposal from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam(CAAV) sent to the ministry recently.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently directed that the reopening ofinternational flights will have to ensure safety for people because just asmall mistake will mean social distancing measures have to be implemented again.

“The reopening aims to serve investors, technical staff and skilled workers inVietnam. It creates conditions for Vietnamese people living abroad toreturn home. However, all still have to follow strict control procedures toprevent the spread of the pandemic to the community,” the ministry officialsaid.

“Vietnam Airlines has conducted one-way flights transporting Vietnamese peopleto the Republic of Korea for work and study, but it is difficult torestore all international routes.”

Head of CAAV Dinh Viet Thang said to maintain and ensure the feasibility of thereopening of international flights, it should not limit the number ofpassengers, including visitors, who will be required to follow safety rules.

He said transit passengers will not be allowed to enter Vietnam.Passengers are required to have stayed in countries and territories for atleast 30 consecutive days before flight and have negative coronaviruscertificates issued three days before the scheduled flight date.

In addition, passengers must be tested at the arrival terminal in Vietnam.Laboratory expenses are paid by the airline. Passengers must stay at locationsdetermined by local People's Committees in cities and provinces for 14 days,for which they have to pay a fee.

Thang said when countries consider how to restart international travel amid theCOVID-19 pandemic, the concept of a "travel bubble", which is an'intra-zone movement or moving corridor', is becoming more attractive.

The travel bubble includes two or more countries successfully restrainingCOVID-19 to create a moving bloc or corridor. People living in thebloc can travel freely by road, sea and air transport, avoiding mandatoryquarantine requirements.

Thang said Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have opened their borders to theBaltic bloc, creating opportunities for businesses to reopen trade, meanwhilevisitors from outside the bloc are still required to isolate themselvesfor 14 days.

Australia and New Zealand have also proposed a Trans-Tasman bubble, in whichcitizens of one country can work in the other without a visa. Meanwhile, Chinais considering expanding its "intra-regional movement" over mainlandChina to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau and the Republic of Korea./.