Increase compensation for passengers if flights are delayed or canceled

The Ministry of Transport has just issued a document to tighten the responsibility of airlines regarding flight delays and cancellations in cases not due to the fault of the passengers and increase the compensation for passengers suffering losses from flight delays and cancellations.

Airlines will have to further enhance their responsibility to passengers when flights are delayed or canceled.

According to the Ministry of Transport, currently, Vietnamese airlines are applying a policy of selling air tickets, including fees for changing flights, flight dates and other conditions depending on the ticket price. This is in line with international air transport business practices, creating conditions for diversifying ticket prices, making it easier for passengers to choose products, contributing to ensuring revenue for airlines. However, in recent times, the situation of delays and cancellations of flights by Vietnamese airlines has increased, causing public outrage, passengers are having higher demands on service quality, care and ensuring the rights of passengers.

To ensure the interests and quality of passenger services and enhance the responsibility of airlines regarding flight delays and cancellations in cases not due to the fault of passengers, the Ministry of Transport requires airlines to review and include in the Transport Regulations detailed content to ensure full implementation of the obligations of the Carrier.

Airlines must make itinerary changes upon request by passengers and shall not charge any fees related to itinerary changes for passengers in cases where the passenger has been confirmed on a flight but the transportation is interrupted, delayed or canceled due to the fault of the carrier.

The Ministry of Transport requires airlines to publicly announce and fully perform their obligations as carriers in case of flight delays, cancellations, interruptions in transportation, refusal to accept transportation, and non-refundable advance compensation responsibilities according to the law; Clearly stipulate cases of flight delays and cancellations for commercial reasons and the responsibilities of airlines in these cases.

Publicly announce the rights and obligations of the carrier and passengers as stipulated in the Transport Regulations at airports, ticket agents and on the airline's website.

Draft Circular of the Minister of Transport on non-refundable advance compensation in air passenger transport in the direction of increasing the level of non-refundable advance compensation, submit to the Ministry in August 2014.

According to Dan Tri