The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has asked Vietnamese airlines to adjust their flight routes on August 4-5 to avoid six 'danger zones' near the island of Taiwan Chinese military exercises are planned.
A source has told Dantri/Dtinews that the direction has affected the operation of at least 59 flights including 36 by Vietnam Airlines, 22 by Vietjet 22, and one by Bamboo Airways.
Speaking at a Wednesday meeting, CAAV's director Dinh Viet Thang said that they had received a notice from the Chinese authorities with recommendations to avoid flying near the six marked areas around the island from 11 am August 4 to 5.
"We have alerted Vietnamese airlines of the notice, adding that airlines can still operate normally and decide on their own whether to postpone or cancel flights if any," Thang said. "The adjustments would likely result in longer flight routes, costing more fuel."
Routes like charter flights from Vietnam to the US (regular routes operated by Vietnam Airlines), Vietnam-Taiwan, Vietnam-Japan, and Vietnam-South Korea could be affected by Chinese military actions.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Chinese official news agency Xinhua reported that the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army would launch a series of joint military operations around Taiwan starting on Tuesday night, soon after US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived on the island for a controversial visit that has drawn a rebuke from China.
"For safety reasons, the entering of vessels and aircraft into the sea and air space is prohibited," Xinhua said.
