Transport Minister Dinh La Thang has demanded a stop to flightcancellations and delays which were on the rise in the first five monthsof this year.

“It is unacceptable that flight delays occur frequently as it does now,” the Minister said.

At a meeting in Hanoi on July 7, he requested the Civil AviationAdministration of Vietnam (CAAV) publish a full list of cancelled anddelayed flights no later than July 11.

At the same time, the authority must work with carriers to point out the causes behind and who are to blame, he said.

According to CAAV, low-cost carrier VietJetAir encountered the highestcancelled and delayed flight rate, 51 percent, during the period. Itwas followed by Jetstar Pacific Airlines, 50 percent and VietnamAirlines, 14 percent.

CAAV Director Lai Xuan Thanhacknowledged that the five-month rate of failed services is fairly high,standing at 25 percent versus 16 percent from last year’s correspondingperiod.

Thang asked CAAV to craft its restructuring plan and consider all necessary changes to the Aviation Law.
The reshuffling process must focus on service quality, security and safety, he noted.

He suggested opening flights to more international airports via investment promotion workshops.

Vietnamese carriers have handled 16.3 million passengers since early2014, up 13 percent year on year, and 372,000 tonnes of cargoes, anyearly rise of 24 percent.-VNA