Operating several international flights to repatriate EU citizens
On 12 June 2020, at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City, Bamboo Airways' flight QH9911 from Vietnam to Italy departs at 3:00 (local time). It arrives at 11:00 (local time) at Milano Malpensa International Airport (IATA: MXP), Lombardy, Italy.
The flight transports stranded European citizens from Italy, France, Slovenia, Spain, and the US citizens with cargos ordered by Italian partners.
It takes 13 hours to finish the 10,000 km-long-haul route Vietnam – Italy. The flight is operated by the wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner of Bamboo Airways.
Earlier, the Carrier has carried out international direct and connecting flights, successfully repatriating more than 600 EU citizens living in Vietnam to the Czech Republic, Lithuania, the UK as well as transporting nearly 200 Vietnamese citizens from the Philippines to Vietnam safely by the wide-body aircraft Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
According to Captain Vu Thanh Long, this flight plays an important role to the crew in marking their milestone to overcome the difficult situation to accomplish an international mission. "We have strictly complied with stringent regulations of the Ministry of Health and related agencies on pandemic prevention and control to ensure health safety before, during and after the flight", Captain Vu Thanh Long said.
Thus, all the passengers are going through pre-boarding temperature screening and health declaration. They are also requested to keep the needed distance and to wear face masks for the entirety of the flight.
Since the midnight of 12 June 2020, passengers and the flight crew of Bamboo Airways are at Tan Son Nhat Airport to prepare for the repatriated flight that takes off at 3:00. Bamboo Airways has strictly complied with stringent regulations of the Ministry of Health and related agencies on pandemic prevention and control.
The flight crew is equipped with complete medical protective gear, including protective clothing, gloves, goggles, masks, alcohol-based medical towels, and disinfectant solutions. Before departing and after returning from Italy, the entire aircraft, from the cockpit to the passenger cabin and cargo, etc. are cleaned and disinfected following the highest standards to prevent absolutely the risk of virus infection. At the same time, the flight crew is immediately taken away for quarantine and health checks as prescribed.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trong, Deputy General Director of Bamboo Airways, said: "It needs flight permissions to fly through 18 countries and territories. Due to the time zone differences and time limitation, all the relevant departments of Bamboo Airways have put in a great deal of effort and worked with a 24/7 non-stop working mode until the procedures for flight permissions are completed".
