A bus transports the South Korean passengers to Đà Nẵng International Airport last night. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Dũng

ĐÀ NẴNG — Twenty passengers from the Republic of Korea were flown back to their home country last night, a day after their arrival in the central city of Đà Nẵng.

They are among 80 passengers who arrived on a flight from Daegu city – the centre of COVID-19 outbreak in the Republic of Korea (RoK) – on Monday. They had been kept under quarantine at Đà Nẵng Lung Disease Hospital since Monday.

Before their departure, the passengers received health screenings and certificates provided by the local medical sector.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Huỳnh Đức Thơ sent a letter of apology to the Koreans, explaining that Đà Nẵng is imposing urgent measures to ensure safety for visitors and the community in the face of the complex development of COVID-19.

The official expressed his hope to welcome the visitors at a more convenient time.

The remaining 60 passengers of the flight include 58 Vietnamese and two Thais.

Some airlines have suspended flights between Việt Nam and the RoK over concerns of the COVID-19 threat. Viêt Nam’s Bamboo Airways suspended flights from the central cities of Đà Nẵng and Nha Trang to the RoK’s Incheon city as of Wednesday.

The airline is currently operating seven round trips per week on each route, using A321NEO capable of carrying nearly 200 passengers.

T’way Air of the RoK has also ceased flights from Daegu to Hà Nội and Đà Nẵng from February 18 to March 28, and flights from Daegu to Nha Trang from February 23 to March 28.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam, four Vietnamese carriers, namely Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Vietjet Air and Jetstar Pacific, are running 182 flights per week from Nha Trang, Đà Lạt, Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng, Hà Nội and HCM City to Busan, Incheon, South Jeolla, Gangwon, Cheongwon-gu and Daegu of the RoK.

Meanwhile, four Korean airlines are operating 10 routes from Busan, Incheon, Daegu and South Jeolla to Việt Nam’s Cam Ranh, Phú Quốc, Đà Nẵng, Hà Nội and HCM City, with 381 flights each week. — VNS