Flights between Macau and Vietnam will be resumed today after a one-day hiatus, the civil aviation authorities in Hanoi announced last night, according to a statement by the Macau Civil Aviation Authority (AACM).
The same-day U-turn came after the Vietnamese aeronautical authorities yesterday afternoon had abruptly banned all flights between Vietnam and mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, apparently due to the current novel coronavirus outbreak in the four regions.
Consequently, Air Macau suspended its flights between Macau and Vietnam yesterday.
However, the Vietnamese authorities last night gave their green light to the resumption of flights between Vietnam and Macau.
"Air Macau is now rearranging the flights for the affected passengers," the AACM statement released at 11:20 p.m. yesterday said, adding that all flights between Macau and Vietnam would be back to normal today.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong government-owned broadcaster RTHK reported last night that Vietnam also dropped its ban on flights to Hong Kong and Taiwan imposed earlier in the day. "The sudden decision by the Vietnamese authorities to end all flights to the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan created confusion all around, especially as some of the flights between these places were in mid-air," RTHK said.
RTHK quoted Hong Kong's Tourism Council as saying that the uncertainty that prevailed for a few hours after Hanoi's abrupt move had forced about 100 Hong Kong residents to stay an extra night in Vietnam.
