The Vietnam Aviation Administration responds to the difficulty of Vietnamese airlines applying for take-off and landing slots at overseas airports
News from Civil Aviation Resource Network on July 14, 2023: According to news from the Vietnam News Agency, on the afternoon of July 13, the Vietnam Aviation Administration responded to the difficulties reported by various Vietnamese airlines in applying for flight take-off and landing slots at foreign airports. Only got the take-off and landing slots of 28 flights, and even lost the take-off and landing slots of London, England, etc. to respond.
Regarding the take-off and landing slots of the canceled flights in London, England, the Vietnam Aviation Administration explained that according to the agreement between Vietnam and the United Kingdom and even agreements with other countries, the two sides can designate multiple airlines to jointly operate.
According to the agreement, the parties do not limit the destination, and allow the airlines designated by both parties to operate 14 one-way flights per week.
China Solar high B obstacle light,
Customized Low intensity twin B light,
High intensity light type B suppliers,
China Solar low intensity light type B,
Cheap Solar low intensity light type B.
On this basis, Vietnam Airlines has operated two routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to London since the end of 2011. According to the 2019 summer flight schedule, Vietnam Airlines operates 7 flights per week between the two countries. British Airways does not operate routes between the two countries.
Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, Vietnam Airlines had to suspend scheduled flights between the two countries, and only resumed the Hanoi-London Heathrow route from the summer of 2022 with one or two weekly flights.
Starting from the summer flight schedule in 2022, the British Department of Transport requires airlines to ensure a 70% utilization rate in order to retain the original take-off and landing slots.
However, due to the impact of the epidemic, it is difficult for Vietnam Airlines to maintain this utilization rate, and has asked the Vietnam Aviation Administration to send a letter to the British aviation authority to seek support for maintaining its original take-off and landing slots at London Heathrow Airport.
In 2022, the Vietnam Aviation Administration has sent two letters and communicated with the British aviation authority, advising them to support Vietnam Airlines in retaining the original take-off and landing slots at London Heathrow Airport.
However, this request was not accepted because the UK Coordination Organization is an independent body and the UK Department for Transport cannot interfere with its operation.
Because Vietnam Airlines cannot maintain the above utilization rate, it is unable to retain the original take-off and landing slots (7 flights per week) of London Heathrow Airport's 2023 summer flight schedule. Currently, Vietnam Airlines operates three flights per week on the Hanoi-London Heathrow route and two flights per week on the Ho Chi Minh City-London Heathrow route. (Newly applied flight departure and landing time)
For Chinese routes, Vietnam Airlines is using the original take-off and landing slots and has not encountered any difficulties yet.
The problem faced by Vietnam Airlines is that it cannot maintain the utilization rate of flight take-off and landing slots at Chinese airports in the summer of 2023, which is the premise of retaining the take-off and landing slots of summer flights in 2024.
At present, 7 Chinese airlines are operating 10 routes from 9 Chinese cities to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with 93 round-trip flights per week.
However, compared with before 2019, the utilization rate of Vietnam Airlines' takeoff and landing slots is only 25%, while that of the Chinese side is about 38%.
The Vietnam Aviation Administration is proactive in discussions with the aviation authorities of various countries, especially China and India, to support and eliminate difficulties in airline operations.
The Vietnam Aviation Administration also uses international forums to meet with relevant authorities and institutions of partner countries to exchange information and propose solutions to resume and facilitate flight operations to and from Vietnam. In addition, the department has jointly held various meetings with Vietnam Airlines to resolve difficulties for Vietnam Airlines.