The Great Airline Snafu: Why 8,000 Flights Were Delayed in Just One Month

The latest statistics report from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) reveals that in May, the industry operated over 23,000 flights. Of these, more than 15,200 flights departed on time, achieving a rate of nearly 67% and a 9.5% increase compared to the previous month.

Notably, there were almost 8,000 delayed flights last month, accounting for over 34% of the total. The primary cause of these delays was late-arriving aircraft, with over 4,400 flights affected, making up 56% of all delayed flights. Additionally, airline-related issues caused 2,650 delays, contributing to nearly 34% of the total.

A total of 133 flights were canceled in May, representing 0.6% of all flights and remaining unchanged from the previous month. Operational issues were the main reason for these cancellations, with nearly 60 flights affected, accounting for almost 43% of all canceled flights.

According to the industry regulator, this summer is expected to see over 68,500 domestic flights, a 21% increase compared to the same period last year. The total number of seats supplied is estimated to reach nearly 14 million, an 18% year-on-year increase. Key tourist destinations like Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, Dalat, and Quy Nhon alone are anticipated to receive over 20,000 flights.

Vietnam Airlines has announced its plans to operate more than 43,000 flights across its domestic and international network during the summer peak, offering nearly 9 million seats to passengers. Of these, 33,000 will be domestic flights, providing over 6.3 million seats. Compared to regular schedules, domestic seat capacity will increase by over 28%, equivalent to nearly 1.4 million additional seats.

Vietjet is expected to provide over 400,000 seats, equivalent to 1,600 flights, during this summer peak, focusing on routes to and from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Nha Trang, Hue, Quang Binh, Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa, and Phu Quoc, among others.

Bamboo Airways shared that they will be adding more aircraft to their fleet to boost capacity during the summer season, along with focusing on operating flights that connect popular tourist destinations.

Vietravel recently announced that it expects to receive its first narrow-body Airbus A321 aircraft on June 24, and two additional Airbus A320 aircraft in July, as part of its plans to stabilize summer operations and expand its route network from the third quarter of this year.

The Vietnamese aviation industry is witnessing a strong recovery, driven by rising domestic travel demand and the rebound of international markets. According to the CAAV, Vietnam’s airports served over 109 million passengers last year, almost matching pre-pandemic peak levels. Notably, international visitor numbers increased by 26%, reinforcing Vietnam’s appeal as a global tourist destination.

However, the current context of escalating geopolitical conflicts, shifting tariff policies, and crises among leading aircraft manufacturers could present challenges for Vietnamese and global airlines alike. These factors may result in extended aircraft delivery times, a scarcity of aircraft leases, maintenance backlogs, and erosion of aviation business revenues and profits due to ongoing airspace closures.