Vietnam still unsure about time for airport repairs; one-month delay possible

The country’s aviation watchdog is working with the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to “agree upon a suitable time to reduce the use of the taxiway CHC 25L/07R” at Tan Son Nhat International Airport to serve the upgrade, the CAAV said in a press release late Tuesday.

“The upgrade is expected to run from May 10 to July 25,” the announcement reads.

The new date is exactly one month later than earlier proposed by the ACV, which wanted to have the taxiway and apron at the Ho Chi Minh City airport upgraded between April 10 and June 25.

Vietnamese carriers are worried that their flying schedules at the airport, and the flying time of one million passengers, will be greatly affected during the construction work.

The airlines will be required to cut their flight numbers during what will be a high demand season for air travel as it is summer time and many public holidays fall in those two months.

“The CAAV has yet to determine the time for the repair project to start,” the aviation authority said in the same announcement.

“The CAAV and ACV will officially report to the Ministry of Transport [about the issue] on April 2.”

CAAV chief Lai Xuan Thanh told local media on Monday that the upgrading project will not affect the travel of passengers and the operations of airlines.

“No matter what plan for the upgrade is adopted, we ensure there will be no impact on the travel of people during the April-May holiday,” Thanh was quoted by Dan Tri (Intellectual) newswire as saying.

Vietnam will enjoy a six-day holiday from April 28 to May 3, thanks to the coincidence of three national festivals, namely the death anniversary of the Hung Kings, believed to be the founders of the nation (April 28), Reunification Day (April 30), and International Labor Day (May 1), in a week.

News that Vietnam will reduce traffic at its largest airport has ignited concerns among carriers and passengers, local and foreign alike.

Passengers who have booked flights between April and June are worried that their flights will be canceled, and shocked at up to 80 flights being possibly scrapped on a daily basis during the upgrade work.

Tan Son Nhat currently sees up to 30 flights departing or landing on an hourly basis, and the frequency should be cut to 25 flights per hour during the upgrade, according to the plan.

The CAAV has said the 25 flight frequency is only a proposal rather than an official decision.