Hanoi, 12 March 2020 – Amid the complex development of the COVID-19 epidemic in Europe, Vietnam Airlines is temporarily reducing the frequency of flights between Vietnam and Europe starting from 25 March, 2020. This is one of the latest efforts of Vietnam Airlines in contributing to the containment of COVID-19 while maintaining its role as an aviation bridge connecting Vietnam and Europe. 
Accordingly, Vietnam Airlines will temporarily reduce a total of 14 flights per week on routes that connect Vietnam and Europe. The routes include those between Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City and London (the United Kingdom) / Paris (France) / Frankfurt (Germany).
Vietnam Airlines is currently the only domestic carrier operating flight routes connecting Vietnam and Europe. These routes play a significant role in terms of economics, politics, and diplomacy. Vietnam Airlines will promptly resume the operation of flights to Europe once the epidemic situation has stabilized.
Currently, Vietnam Airlines is taking pre-boarding body temperature checks for every passenger departing from Europe and providing them with face masks to use during the flight. The aircraft utilized for all international flights to Vietnam and those on which passengers have recorded abnormal health symptoms will be disinfected. During the flight, passengers are advised to sit in one place and restrict unnecessary communication and movement throughout the cabin.
Regarding domestic routes, Vietnam Airlines also cleans and disinfects aircraft and frequently touched surfaces, headphones, and other ground service equipment. The carrier continues with previously implemented preventative measures such as minimizing reusable items, providing face masks and hand sanitizer for flight crew members and passengers if needed, increasing cabin temperature to 26 degrees Celsius, etc.
Europe is among the places seeing dramatic increases in cases of COVID-19. As such, the Government of Vietnam will unilaterally suspend visa exemptions for eight European nations, namely Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Spain.