The flight to the UK also carried face masks from the government and people of Vietnam to their UK counterparts to assist in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnam Airlines Repatriates Citizens of the United Kingdom and Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)
Accordingly, the UK Embassy in Hanoi reached out to local state agencies and Vietnam Airlines to arrange the repatriation flight for more than a hundred UK citizens stranded in Vietnam and Cambodia. The flight took off from Phnom Penh on the evening of April 13th, made a brief stop in Hanoi to pick up more UK citizens, and then departed for London (England).
All UK citizens arriving in Hanoi from Phnom Penh stayed inside the airport, had their body temperature, and health checked at the airport, and then remained in a separate zone before boarding for the flight to London. Passengers were mostly tourists, including a few cured cases of COVID-19 after receiving treatment in Vietnam.
This flight has not only supported UK citizens wishing to return home amid international flight restrictions but has also contributed to strengthening diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the UK. Recently, Vietnam Airlines transported face masks provided by Vietnam to five European countries (including the UK) on a repatriation flight for German and European citizens.
At the same time, Vietnam Airlines also cooperated with relevant agencies of Vietnam and Vietnam’s Embassy in the UK to conduct a return flight for Vietnamese nationals in the UK, which landed in Van Don International Airport on the morning of April 15th. Assisted by the Embassy, this return flight home included students under the age of 18, the elderly, and disadvantaged. This marks the 6th repatriation flight for Vietnamese nationals operated by Vietnam Airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Services provided to passengers strictly followed pandemic prevention and control regulations. Pre-boarding temperature checks, health checks, and interviews of passengers were conducted. Passengers were also required to wear face masks for the entirety of the flight. All members of the flight crew were equipped with complete medical protective gear. Right after the aircraft landed in Vietnam, passengers went into quarantine and had their health status monitored per the regulations. The aircraft was thoroughly disinfected, from the cockpit to the passenger cabin before continuing its service.
Under the Prime Minister’s directions, the competent authorities are continuing to review, propose solutions, and cooperate with Vietnam Airlines to bring Vietnamese nationals stranded in foreign countries home, with priority given children under the age of 18, the elderly, thereby ensuring that resources are allocated appropriately, and concentrated quarantine sites are adequately positioned to receive more people.
Nguyen Xuan Nghia – COMM
