Passengers wait for flights at Noi Bai International Airport. Transport experts have been urged to identify the causes of delayed flights which are on the rise this year. — VNS Photo Truong Vi

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang has urged the Civil Aviation Administration of Viet Nam (CAAV) to find out why there have been so many cancelled and delayed flights this year. The incidents are reportedly on the rise.

The minister has also asked for a check on the responsibilities of the people involved.

Thang said the CAAV must supply the ministry with a full list of cancelled and delayed flights and the delays involved no later than this Friday.

He also asked the CAAV to set up a restructuring plan and make changes to the Aviation Law focusing on revising service quality, security and safety.

Vietnamese carriers have handled 16.3 million passengers and 372,000 tonnes of cargo since early this year, an increase of 13 per cent and 24 per cent respectively compared to the same period of last year.

Figures from the CAAV show that the percentage of cancelled and delayed flights accounted for 25 per cent of the total in the first five months of this year compared to 16 per cent for the same period last year.

Low-cost carrier VietJet Air had the highest rate of cancelled and delayed flights - 51 per cent of its total. Jetstar Pacific Airlines reported 50 per cent of its total flights were also affected.

Vietnam Airlines had the lowest rate with 14 per cent of its total.

Director of the CAAV Lai Xuan Thanh admitted that the percentage of cancelled and delayed flights was rather high, seriously affecting the quality of airline services.

The main reason for late or cancelled flights, according to the VAAC, was that airport facilities could not handle peak-hour traffic - and that ground services were slow. — VNS