Aviation authority warns of flight cuts over delays, cancellations

With many flights delayed or canceled, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam has warned it would cut the number of services if the situation remains unchanged.

Domestic carriers in June recorded more than 5,600 delayed flights, accounting for 18.2% of services, up 9% compared to May.

Of the number, Vietjet Air had nearly 2,900 delayed flights, up 20% over the same period last year, while Vietnam Airlines had more than 2,200, an 18% rise.

Dinh Viet Thang, director of the authority (CAAV) at a meeting on delayed flights Wednesday, said the number of domestic passengers in the first six months had increased by 38% compared to the same period in 2019, pre-pandemic times.

Thang acknowledged that surging traffic, limited aviation infrastructure and carriers' personnel difficulties post-pandemic were some of the reasons behind the rising number of delays and cancellations, especially at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports.

"But carriers need to find new solutions, new technologies. They should not simply wait for improved infrastructure," he noted.

Thang suggested units in the aviation industry, depending on each airport, have specific regulations on runway occupation. "Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports in particular must ensure that landings are completed in a maximum 60 seconds, and departures in 30 seconds. Flight crews that do not meet regulations should not be allowed to access these airports."

The CAAV director requested the Vietnam Flight Management Corporation (VATM) to consider adjusting the minimum separation between aircraft at Noi Bai airport to three miles from five.

In addition, Thang requested VATM and Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to address parking and flight time problems with synchronous and flexible coordination, while improving service quality.