Empty Plane Sent to Vietnam to Transfer Passengers After Blocking 'Hanoi Landing' (Update)

Image source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The Vietnamese government suddenly banned Korean passenger planes from landing at Hanoi Airport, prompting domestic airlines to operate empty flights to bring those stranded in Vietnam back home.

According to the aviation industry on the 29th, Asiana Airlines received approval from Hanoi Airport authorities to operate flight OZ733 from Incheon to Hanoi at 7:30 PM with only crew members on board as a ferry flight, and then return with 151 passengers on flight OZ734 from Hanoi to Incheon.

Additionally, flights OZ755 from Incheon to Da Nang at 6:45 PM, OZ772 from Incheon to Phu Quoc at 6:55 PM, and OZ735 from Incheon to Ho Chi Minh City at 7:25 PM will also operate as ferry flights before picking up passengers locally in Vietnam and returning.

Korean Air also decided to operate six flights (including two to Saigon) scheduled to depart Incheon for Hanoi, Saigon, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and Nha Trang as ferry flights, while flights departing Vietnam for Incheon will operate normally.

The Vietnamese government mandated that the Korea-Hanoi route use Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh Province, about a three-hour drive from Hanoi, instead of Noi Bai Airport starting at 8:15 AM local time (10:15 AM Korean time). This measure was reportedly communicated to airlines by phone around 8:30 AM.

Due to the sudden policy, Asiana Airlines flight OZ729 to Hanoi, which departed Incheon at 10:10 AM with 40 passengers, made an emergency return to Incheon Airport 40 minutes after takeoff.

Furthermore, Vietnamese authorities temporarily suspended visa-free entry for Koreans starting at midnight on the 29th. Consequently, Asiana Airlines canceled flight OZ729 to Hanoi scheduled for the morning of March 1 and is currently discussing the cancellation status of the remaining four flights to Vietnam. Korean Air is also internally reviewing its Vietnam flights to decide on any additional cancellations.