Higher penalty will be given to delayed and canceled flights

Passengers are waiting for flights at Tân Sơn Nhất Airport. — Photo baogiaothong.vn

HÀ NỘI — Stronger sanctions are needed to stop the delay and cancelation of flights, said Minister of Transport Nguyễn Văn Thể at a meeting on co-ordinating take-off and landing times, known as slots, held in Hà Nội on Thursday.

Thể said the delay and cancellation of trips is an urgent problem in society. It’s necessary to develop solutions strong enough to solve this, especially to serve the coming national day, which falls on September  二, New Year and the Lunar New Year holidays.

At the meeting, Director of Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAA) Đinh Việt Thắng said there are many reasons for the delay and cancelation of flights. Weather causes  一 七. 三 per cent and errors by airlines  六 三 per cent. 

At Tân Sơn Nhất Airport, the capacity is  五0 flights per hour but the airport allocates just  四 四 flights an hour. The airlines with on-time arrivals and departures for at least  八0 per cent of the flights will receive priority to select slots next year.

Thể requested the transport ministry’s units and agencies study sanctions in a more serious way, issuing clear penalties for every delay and cancellation.

“It’s necessary to invest in the application of technologies and infrastructure to ensure safety for night flights, complete the coordination process at the airports, and clearly define the responsibilities of each section,” said Thể.

Thể requested the CAA deploy i妹妹ediately some solutions and make changes in the quality of services as of October  一 this year, preparing to serve passengers during the upcoming holidays, ensuring they do not have to wait too long at the airports.

According to CAA statistics in the first seven months of this year, the total number of flights operated by four airlines, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific and Vasco, is  一 七 七, 五 一0 flights, of which  二 六, 五 七 八 were delayed and canceled. — VNS