Bamboo Airways conducted a special Hanoi-London flight on May 10 for stranded European and British citizens in Vietnam, providing them with an opportunity to head back to London, the UK.

Flight QH9035 took off at 02:00am on May 10 from Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport before landing at Heathrow Airport in London at 09:15am (GMT). 

The organisation of the flight by Bamboo Airways was of great significance as it helped facilitate the travel of British and European passengers left stranded in Vietnam due to the temporary suspension of regular international flights both to and from the nation as a result of complicated developments caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.

Aside from repatriating stranded people from both the UK and the EU, the flight also served to boost the diplomatic ties that exist between Vietnam, the UK, and other European countries, while simultaneously offering support to other nations in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The successful operation of Bamboo Airways' first flight to the UK represents an important milestone as the airline seeks to continue strengthening international co-operation and speeding up its expansion of a regular network of flights to Europe, of which the UK represents a major market with plenty of potential for penetration.

Indeed, flight QH9035 marks the third flight conducted by Bamboo Airways for the purpose of repatriating European passengers, with each journey being conducted on the wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

In boarding the flight, all passengers had to strictly comply with regulations aimed at preventing the spread of the COVID-19. This includes filling in medical declaration forms at the airport, having their body temperature checked, disinfecting their hands before boarding the flight, and wearing masks for the duration of the journey.