Passengers received pre-boarding instructions from Vietnam Airlines staff at Incheon Airport, Seoul, South Korea. — VNA/VNS Photo Anh Nguyen

Flight VN417 carrying 63 passengers departed from Incheon International Airport in Seoul.

Nguyen Huy Duc, head of Vietnam Airlines' branch in South Korea, said Vietnam Airlines was the first Vietnamese carrier to resume regular flights between the two countries.

There is high demand for returning to the homeland, especially when Tet (Lunar New Year) is approaching, he said.

In the first stage of restarting international flights, Vietnam Airlines will operate two flights per week between Seoul and Hanoi but the carrier is ready to add more flights if permitted.

To ensure the safety of the flights, the airline strictly adheres to regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, even though the implementation of Government COVID-19 measures is not without its challenges, he added.

Pham Thi Luong, a passenger on the flight, said she was glad to return to Vietnam after two years.

It was easy to buy the ticket and complete necessary procedures so people feel secure to come back to the homeland for reunion with their relatives on the Tet holidays, she said.

The flight is part of the Vietnam Government’s plan to restore regular international flights with a high safety level, which has commenced from January 1, 2022.

This policy aims to restore international passenger transport activities, promoting economic recovery and tourism as well as making it easier for Vietnamese citizens to return home to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Source: Vietnam News

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