A corner of Nội Bài International Airport. Vietnam Airlines is to suspend all international routes due to the spread of COVID-19. — Photo Vietnam Airlines

HÀ NỘI — The national carrier Vietnam Airlines on Thursday announced that it will suspend all international routes on its flight network until April 30.

The report was released as the COVID-19 pandemic is growing, while the policy of restricting entry and closing borders was increasing around the world.

Southeast Asia routes including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar will be suspended from March 21. The British and Japanese routes are halted in both directions from March 23.

Departures to Germany and Australia will be paused from March 24, and returns from March 25.

Vietnam Airlines also suspended flights between Việt Nam and China, Hong Kong, Macao, South Korea, France, Russia, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Vietnam Airlines said that passengers planning to fly internationally during this period should actively monitor the flight schedule on the website www.vietnamairlines.com and Vietnam Airlines application to plan the appropriate route themselves.

“Vietnam Airlines is looking forward to receiving the sympathy of passengers for its operations in this unavoidable situation. Vietnam Airlines will widely inform passengers about the plan to re-operate these routes after a new decision by the authorities,” Vietnam Airlines said.

To assist affected passengers, Vietnam Airlines waives fees and conditions for changing flight dates and itinerary changes for all international passengers affected by COVID-19 before March 25.

Tracing co-passengers

The Ministry of Health has announced it has identified the following flights with passengers carrying COVID-19, including:

- Emirates Airlines EK 392 from Dubai to HCM City on March 15, 2020;
- VJ642 of Vietjet Air from HCM City to Đà Nẵng on March 12, 2020;
- TK162 of Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to HCM City on March 10, 2020.

The Ministry of Health recommends that all passengers on these flights immediately contact the Centres for Disease Control of provinces and cities for instructions on health monitoring. The ticket agents for these passengers are responsible for notifying passengers who have purchased tickets on these flights. — VNS