Four domestic carriers, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Jetstar Pacific and the Viet Nam Air Services Company (VASCO), reported 26,578 delayed and cancelled flights, or 15 per cent of their total flights, in the first seven months of 2018.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of Viet Nam (CAAV), the four airlines operated a total of 177,510 flights in the reviewed period, including 26,057 delayed and 521 cancelled. Low-cost airline Vietjet had the highest rate of cancelled and delayed flights at 17.5 per cent, with 12,417 out of the total 71,002 flights it operated during January-July. This rate for the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, was 11.7 per cent with 8,970 out of a total of 76,636 flights. Jetstar Pacfic reported 4,401 cancelled and delayed flights out of its total 21,718 or 20.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, VASCO’s delay and cancellation rate was only 3.3 per cent, with 299 out of its total 8,154 flights in the period.

According to CAAV, late return of planes was the main cause of the delays and cancellations. Other reasons include airports’ limited infrastructure and services, flight management and operation, weather and technical issues, the agency said. — VNS