Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnamese airlines have resumed most domesticflights after the country has gone almost 50 days without communitytransmission of the coronavirus.

While international routes are still mostly stopped, opening more domesticroutes is seen as key to getting airlines and the local economy back on theirfeet.

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines on Monday announced that it willopen six more domestic routes this month, connecting the northern port city of HaiPhong and destinations in central and southern Vietnam, including Phu Quoc, DaLat, Can Tho and Buon Ma Thuot.

Vietnam Airlines started reopening domestic routes nationwide early last monthafter getting approval from the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam(CAAV).

Jetstar Pacific, VietJet Air, Bamboo Airway and VASCO have all startedreopening of domestic routes, but for the aviation industry to fully recover,besides the domestic market, international flights need to gradually return,first of all in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia.

Speaking at a conference on aviation development held in the south central provinceof Binh Dinh on May 31, deputy head of the CAAV Vo Huy Cuong said the sectorwould need to be available after the COVID-19 pandemic is controlled and allimmigration and isolation barriers are removed.

At that time, Cuong said the industry would be operating normally andinternational routes would be bustling.

“Although there is not yet an exact time for the reopening of internationalroutes, we are still seeking solutions to recover international routes. We nowmaintain international cargo arrivals and departures but still limit the entryof passengers,” Cuong said.

"We are studying the reopening of some international routes between Vietnamand France, the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong. It’s also needed to developinfrastructure to make the aviation industry stronger after the COVID-19pandemic,” he added.

Chairman of FLC Group and Bamboo Airways Trinh Van Quyet said the Ministry ofTransport and CAAV had been receptive to the airline's proposals andauthorities had given solutions and policies to aid the industry.

“Bamboo Airways has reopened 90 percent of its domestic routes, however, itjust reached 50 percent of flights compared to prior to the pandemic. We willrecover all routes this month,” Quyet said.

Economist Le Xuan Nghia said the world economy might take a few years torecover, however, Vietnam would not face an economic recession but growthdecline.

“Northeast Asia’s COVID-19 outbreak has been under stable control, so it’snecessary to recover routes in this region. The domestic market has restoredwell, this is an advantage of the aviation industry, we only need a stimulussolution,” Nghia said.

Doan Thi Loc, Deputy Director of Saigon Tourist, said airlines offeringdiscounts and resort deals had made a great impact on tourism.

“Tourism companies often negotiate prices with restaurants and entertainmentplaces to build attractive products, stimulating the tourism needs of people.Airfares usually account for a third of the tour cost. With such cheap airfaresat present, customers will benefit greatly,” Loc said./.