New-aged carrier Vietjet and Lufthansa Technik have signed an agreement at Singapore Airshow to adopt AVIATAR’s Technical Logbook, the seamless digital pilot-to-maintenance collaboration application.

A total of 19 flight routes between Vietnam and other countries have resumed operations since the pilot programme to bring back international flights starting from the beginning of 2022, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

About 153,000 foreign passengers flew from/to Vietnam from the time the country launched a pilot programme to resume international flights in January to February 14, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

The CAAV has asked the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation to issue a Notice To Airmen on the lifting of all restrictions on international flights from February 15, returning to the normal situation as before the outbreak of COVID-19.

In the early days of 2022, Vietnam’s airports were packed with passengers, which was good news for the local aviation industry and a positive sign for strong economic recovery.

The recent recovery signs of domestic and international air routes stir hope of the sector for a strong rebound this year following a bad year in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To make regular international flights convenient and safe, it is necessary to remove “barriers” from inappropriate medical quarantine conditions.

The Chinese side has yet to agree to restore a regular flight route with Vietnam due to concerns about Covid-19 pandemic developments.

Vietnam has reopened 10 international regular air routes and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has agreed to increase the number of routine flights. Experts have said it is now time to stop rescue flights.

Private investors will have more options to invest in aviation infrastructure, which has been dominated by state-owned enterprises. 

During 2021-2030, the Ministry of Transport proposes building six new airports, bringing the total number of airports countrywide to 28 to serve 283 million passengers.

The Ministry of Transport has been granted autonomy in deciding the resumption of international commercial air routes.

With a week left until the Government’s scheduled pilot resumption of regular international flights, air transport and airlines have all said they are more than ready but there are some policy issues to be resolved.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has given the greenlight to restore regular international commercial flights to a number of countries in Asia and the United States starting on January 1, 2022.

After nearly two years of suspended international flights, with exceptions only for returning citizens and foreign experts coming to work, the Ministry of Transport has requested the resumption of regular international flights to Vietnam. 

Local aviation enterprises have again asked for preferential loans to overcome difficulties caused by the pandemic.

The Ministry of Public Security has officially established the Airborne Security Department, which is responsible for preventing and combating terrorist attacks and unlawful interference to ensure aviation security in Vietnam.

Giving vaccinations is the top priority so that by early 2022 regular international flights can reopen.

Sixteen localities have agreed to resume domestic flights, while the capital of Hanoi, Hai Phong City and Gia Lai Province are not on the list.

The Vietnam Aviation Business Association (VABA) has cities and provinces to resume flights to their localities, especially flights to/from Noi Bai, Da Nang and Tan Son Nhat, on October 10.