Compensation for delayed, cancelled flights
Delayed or cancelled flights will cost airlines at least VND100,000 more in compensation to each affected passengers under a new proposal by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam to the Transport Ministry.
Flights that take off 15 minutes later than scheduled are considered delayed, while a cancellation occurs when flight schedules still exist in the system 24 hours before takeoff, but the airline does not operate the flight.
On domestic routes, each passenger delayed will now get VND300,000 if the flight is longer than 500km, and VND400,000 flights of more than 1,000km.
Compensation on international routes will remain at US$25 for any flight less than 1,000km, US$50 for 1,000km and more and US$150 for a flight of 5,000 km or more.
The CAA said passengers should lodge complaints with the airlines if they think the compensation is insufficient, and can sue airlines over compensation within two years from the date of their scheduled flights.
The Ministry said the current compensation rate is low and caused dissatisfaction among passengers.
Airliners may not have to pay compensations if flights are delayed or cancelled because of weather, aviation security, government order or if passengers are informed of the delay 24 hours prior to takeoff.
Disagreement remained on whether airliners have to compensate passengers for technical or mechanical problems.