VN resumes international flights June 1

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From Bangkok Post

HANOI: Vietnam will not consider applications for new airlines as it looks to prioritise the recovery of its aviation sector after the impact of the novel coronavirus, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) said on Wednesday.

Vietnam's aviation market has seen double-digit annual growth over the past decade but due to the pandemic, the number of arrivals this year is expected to fall by 43% on the year, according to a Transport Ministry report in April.

Domestic flights have resumed since April 22, after the government lifted a lockdown order, while international flights are expected to partially resume from June 1.

"The government now has to focus on resuming domestic and international routes and supporting existing airlines, which have been hit hard by the outbreak," the CAAV said in a statement.

"The establishment of new airline will resume when the pandemic passes."

Vietnam suspended all international and most domestic flights in March and April in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected 288 people in the country

Two airlines are awaiting permits, Kite Air of hospitality group Thien Minh and Vietravel Airlines of tourism firm Vietravel.

There are five commercial airlines in operation in Vietnam: Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific, Vietjet Air, Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) and Bamboo Airways.

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From Vietnam News

Việt Nam ranks second for COVID-19 response in global survey

HÀ NỘI — With an index score of 77, Việt Nam is ranked second globally by its citizens for its COVID-19 response, and first among Southeast Asian countries, according to a newly released study of over 23 countries and territories by Singapore-based social research agency Blackbox. 

Only 14 per cent of Vietnamese citizens felt angry or frustrated during the crisis – the least of any country in the survey.  

94 per cent of Vietnamese felt that keeping the public informed on the virus with accurate information had worked in their favour in managing the pandemic, contributing to the country’s excellent performance in the fight against COVID-19, according to the study. 

David Black, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Blackbox Research, said Việt Nam’s impressive score reflects the country’s swift and strict measures to clamp down on the spread of the virus, as well as its regular and transparent communication with the public on ongoing case investigations.

 “Việt Nam’s effectiveness in curbing the spread of the virus so far has led to a heightened level of trust and confidence of citizens in their leaders, especially when we compare the country with some of its Southeast Asian neighbours who have at times struggled with testing, contact tracing and dealing with new clusters of cases,” said Black.