Do Airlines Increase Flights to Meet the Travel Demand of People During the Lunar New Year 2023?
Do airlines increase flights to meet the travel demand of citizens during the upcoming Lunar New Year 2023?
On November 18, 2022, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam issued Directive 5706/CT-CHK on strengthening aviation safety during the Gregorian and Lunar New Year 2023.
In Section 1 of Directive 5706/CT-CHK in 2022, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam requires airlines and maintenance organizations to perform as follows:
- Require pilots, flight attendants, and aircraft maintenance staff to strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures approved by the CAAV.
Special attention to pre-flight preparations must ensure all necessary information for the flight; coordinate to cross-check important information during the flight; adhere to regulations on aircraft operation in adverse weather conditions (wind shear, gusts, crosswinds, tailwinds, thunderstorms, sudden visibility reduction, etc.) at airports.
- Review and rationally allocate resources (aircraft, pilots, aircraft maintenance staff, spare materials, equipment...) at airports to enhance the capability of resolving aircraft failures and incidents, minimizing the downtime due to technical failures, and reducing delays and cancellations to the maximum extent.
- Ensure compliance with work hours, rest periods, not allowing violations of working hours of flight crew members and maintenance staff;
- Through the reliability program, supplement the maintenance program with necessary items for systems susceptible to operational time impacts, minimizing the impact of aircraft technical factors and equipment reliability on flight safety.
- Effectively disseminate and train the flight crew on the improved operational capabilities guidelines of the CAAV at Tan Son Nhat International Airport to minimize the runway occupancy time.
- Develop a plan to increase flights, especially during peak periods, and allocate night flights to meet the travel demand of citizens while ensuring airport infrastructure compatibility and aviation security and safety; simultaneously implement measures to control and reduce delays and cancellations.
- Continue to raise awareness, seriousness, and responsibility in implementing COVID-19 prevention measures.
What responsibilities do aviation service providers have?
Section 3 of Directive 5706/CT-CHK in 2022 stipulates as follows:
Aviation service providers:
- Develop specific plans, methods, and measures to ensure the service provision during the Gregorian and Lunar New Year 2023 based on the unit’s resources and the increased flight plans of airlines;
- Strengthen inspection efforts, ensure security and safety when serving flights, passengers, and facilitate traffic within the airport area;
- Check, review, and supplement to ensure sufficient fire fighting and emergency response forces, vehicles, and equipment according to the approved plans;
- Require officers and staff to fully implement COVID-19 prevention measures while on duty with responsibility and seriousness in the COVID-19 prevention and control work.
How does the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam require airlines to fulfill their obligations to passengers affected by delayed or canceled flights?
Section 4 of Directive 5706/CT-CHK requires airport authorities to:
- Disseminate and thoroughly understand the contents of this Directive to agencies and units operating within the airport areas;
- Organize strict inspections and supervision of the activities of units operating at airports, ensuring aviation security, safety, and food hygiene on flights and at airports;
- Intensify inspection and supervision of delayed and canceled flights; monitor the fulfillment of obligations by Vietnamese airlines toward passengers in cases of delays and cancellations;
- Strengthen the inspection and supervision of COVID-19 prevention and control efforts by units at airports; cooperate with state health management agencies at airports or the Department of Health of the Ministry of Transport to rigorously implement COVID-19 prevention and control measures as per the guidance of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and the Ministry of Health.
Additionally, in Section 2 of Directive 5706/CT-CHK in 2022, it requires the Airports Corporation of Vietnam and Van Don International Airport to:
- Enhance the control, ensuring aviation security and safety;
- Develop a service plan and allocate resources to ensure infrastructure, equipment, and means to maintain service quality and order at airports, ensuring safe and effective flight operations to meet the travel needs of citizens;
- Require agencies, units, and aviation staff to strictly adhere to vehicle maintenance and equipment regulations, parking regulations, follow appropriate lanes for service vehicles, and strictly comply with aviation security and safety regulations while providing services at airports;
- Check and supplement to ensure sufficient fire fighting and emergency response forces, vehicles, and equipment according to approved plans; strengthen runway, taxiway, and apron inspections and promptly address any arising issues;
- Cooperate closely with the Department of Transport in cities and localities and competent authorities to organize traffic routing, reduce congestion at airports, especially at Tan Son Nhat International Airport;
- Continue raising awareness, seriousness, and responsibility in COVID-19 prevention and control work.
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