Vietnam’s national carrier is set to suspend nearly two dozen domestic flights per week starting next month, as fuel constraints linked to the Middle East conflict tighten supplies, according to Arab News.
“Vietnam Airlines plans to temporarily suspend operations on several routes from April 1,” totaling 23 flights a week, the country’s civil aviation authority said in a statement late Monday.
Jet fuel prices have surged since the conflict in the Middle East erupted more than three weeks ago, causing a broader spike in oil markets and growing concerns over potential supply shortages.
“The limited supply of aviation fuel (Jet A-1) due to the conflict in the Middle East has put domestic airlines at risk of fuel shortages,” prompting the flight cuts, the authority said.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, targeting its leadership and triggering a new conflict in the Middle East.
Iran has been responding with a retaliatory counterattack in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi as a retaliatory move, while launching barrages of missiles and drones toward Israel.
Due to the escalating tensions, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared that the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, was unsafe. Therefore, the authorities halted ship movements.
Vietnam has recently sought fuel support from several countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, Algeria and Japan.
On Monday, it also signed an agreement with Russia to broaden oil and gas production in both countries.
Meanwhile, Myanmar’s national carrier said on Sunday it would suspend some domestic flights due to “unavoidable circumstances” but providing no further details.
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