CAAV has requested Vietjet to ensure stable ground services at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Photo: Vietnamnet)
Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has recently called on Vietjet Air to urgently address significant staff shortages following widespread flight delays at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. This development comes after Vietjet began independently managing its ground services at the airport, starting Apr 20, 2025, ending its contract with Saigon Ground Services JSC (SAGS).
The initial days of Vietjet’s self-managed ground operations revealed multiple shortcomings, resulting in delays across most flights on April 20 and 21. CAAV Director Uong Viet Dung highlighted that these delays stemmed from several factors:
- The airline transition to self-handling ground services created operational challenges.
- Adjustment in aircraft reception schedules at Tan Son Nhat to accommodate pilot training ahead of Vietnam’s major public holidays ( Vietnamese Reunification Day, April 30th, and Vietnamese Labor Day, May 1st) disrupted flight timings.
- Adverse weather conditions at Noi Bai International Airport further complicate Vietjet’s flight operations.
These disruptions affected flight schedules and led to passenger dissatisfaction and concerns about service quality.
In response, CAAV has mandated Vietjet to:
- Allocate sufficient staff and equipment specifically for passenger and baggage handling
- Coordinate closely with other ground service providers at Tan Son Nhat to ensure smooth servicing of all scheduled flights.
- Reassess flight operations, aircraft turnaround times, and ground service durations to match its ground handling capacity.
- Comply strictly with regulations protecting passenger rights during delays or cancellations.
- Strengthen operational stability at Noi Bai Airport, especially amid internal staff reallocations
CAAV has also instructed the Airports Corporation of Vietnam and related authorities to assist Vietjet in a smooth transition. Meanwhile, Vietjet has launched goodwill compensation, offering E-vouchers worth 500,000 VND for domestic passengers and 1,000,000 VND for international travelers affected by delays of two hours or more on April 20 and 21.
This incident underscores the complexity airlines face when managing ground operations independently, especially during peak travel seasons and operational transitions. Ground handling involves complex coordination of staff, equipment, and schedules, which directly impacts flights’ punctuality and passenger satisfaction. Vietjet’s prompt response and CAAV’s oversight aim to restore service reliability and confidence in Vietnam’s rapidly growing aviation sector.
