The carrier has made two scenarios in case the EU decides to close its airspace, a representative of the carrier told the Vietnam News Agency.

In the first scenario, if the EU closes its airspace at 12:00 on March 17 (local time), Vietnam Airlines will immediately follow the ban, and at the same time push up the schedule to 15 minutes earlier than the closure order.

In the second scenario, if the Vietnamese Government, the Prime Minister and diplomatic agencies have a request on repatriating Vietnamese citizens, the carrier will coordinate with the Government and diplomatic agencies in working with Europe’s authorized agencies to bringing Vietnamese citizens back home.

Vietnam Airlines is willing to bring its aircraft to Europe to serve Vietnamese passengers as requested by the Government and the Prime Minister. However, its solutions at that time have to rely on the EU leaders’ final decision, the carrier’s representative said.

On March 16, the carrier committed to creating the most favourable conditions for Vietnamese citizens in Europe who want to return home amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19.

The firm is maintaining five flights from the UK, France and Germany to Vietnam each day, with passengers required to meet relevant requirements.

Vietnam Airlines said these flights will be put under the strictest medical control to ensure safety for passengers and its employees and prevent the spread of the disease in the community.

Those arriving at Vietnam’s airports will be put into medical quarantine and have their samples tested in line with the Ministry of Health’s regulations, it noted.

Vietnam Airlines suspends flights to France, Malaysia

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced that it will suspend flights between Vietnam and France from March 17 night amid the worsening COVID-19 outbreak.

Specifically, Vietnam Airlines will cancel flight VN11 from Ho Chi Minh City to Paris on March 17 night.

Other flights between the two countries will be suspended until there is a new notice from authorities.

Flights between Vietnam and the UK and Germany will be maintained as scheduled.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam Airlines temporarily stopped flights between Vietnam and Malaysia from March 18-31 due to the Malaysian government’s border lock-down during the period.

The carrier will consider cutting or reducing flights in the region due to the epidemic and the Vietnamese government’s new regulations related to immigration and quarantine.

Passengers buying tickets for flights between Vietnam and France departing from March 18 – June 30 will be eligible for changing journeys or flight dates for free.

Meanwhile, passengers with tickets on Vietnam – Malaysia flights from March 18 -31 could also change flight dates free-of-charge.

Further information could be found on the website www.vietnamairlines.com, www.facebook.com/VietnamAirlines, Vietnam Airlines ticket agents, customer care hotline 1900 1100 (calling from Vietnam) or 842438320320 (calling from abroad).

Vietnam Airlines’ back-up operation centres ready to deal with COVID-19

Vietnam Airlines said on March 17 that its back-up operation centres located outsides its headquarters have been launched and got ready for running around the clock to deal with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Inside a back-up operation centre of Vietnam Airlines

The centres have full functions and resources to ensure the smooth and stable operation of flights and services under all circumstances.

Several deputy general directors of the carrier have been allocated to work at the southern operation centre to ensure its operation in case the pandemic worsens.

Earlier, the carrier committed to creating the most favourable conditions for Vietnamese citizens in Europe who want to return home amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19.

At present, it is maintaining five flights from the UK, France and Germany to Vietnam each day, with passengers required to meet relevant requirements.

These flights are put under the strictest medical control to ensure safety for passengers and its employees and prevent the spread of the risk of the disease in the community.

Those arriving at Vietnam’s airports will be put into medical quarantine and have their samples tested in line with the Ministry of Health’s regulation./.