Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction is seeking public feedback on a draft circular governing air transport operations.
Under the proposal, airlines would continue offering compensation through existing methods such as cash, bank transfers, free tickets and service credits. However, the draft also introduces additional forms of compensation, including airline vouchers and loyalty reward points.
Passengers wait in the departure gate area at Tan Son Nhat Airport (Photo: Hai Long).
The proposal sets different refund timelines depending on the payment method. Voucher refunds would need to be completed within seven days, while refunds through cash or bank transfer could take up to 21 days. Credit card refunds may require up to 45 days, while those processed through ticket agents could take as long as 60 days.
One of the key changes in the draft is a proposed 25 per cent increase in advance compensation for passengers affected by significant delays or flight cancellations.
The ministry said the proposed increase is based on United States dollar inflation between 2015 and 2025, which reached around 25 per cent according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The draft regulation would also extend the deadline for airlines to complete compensation payments to 30 working days after a disrupted flight, compared with the current requirement of 14 working days.