The airline must compensate passengers whose flights are canceled.

The Civil Aviation Law has added many obligations for airlines towards passengers in the event of flight delays or cancellations.

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh reports on the acceptance, explanation, and revision of the Vietnamese Civil Aviation Law. Photo: Quochoi.vn

On the afternoon of December 10th, with a large majority of National Assembly delegates voting in favor, the National Assembly passed the Law on Civil Aviation of Vietnam. The law has 11 chapters and 107 articles, and will come into effect on July 1st, 2026.

Presenting the report on the acceptance, explanation, and amendment of the Law, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh stated that the Vietnamese Civil Aviation Law has added a provision requiring carriers to be responsible for the accuracy of the reasons for delays and cancellations they announce and notify, while also assigning responsibility to Vietnamese aviation authorities to supervise the fulfillment of carriers' obligations.

In addition, the draft will be reviewed and revised to specify the cases in which passengers can receive a refund for their ticket or the equivalent amount for any unused portion of the ticket or service.

The law specifically stipulates the obligations of carriers when transporting passengers. Accordingly, carriers must promptly inform passengers about flight information.

In cases where a passenger has a confirmed seat on a flight but the transportation is delayed, canceled, or denied due to no fault of the passenger, the carrier must promptly notify the passenger, apologize, ensure their meals, accommodation, and transportation are provided, and bear all directly related costs commensurate with the waiting time at the airport.

The law stipulates that if a flight is delayed or canceled, the airline must arrange for meals, accommodation, transportation, and compensation. (Photo: Quochoi.vn)

In cases where a passenger has a confirmed seat on a flight but the transportation is delayed, canceled, or denied due to the carrier's fault, the carrier must arrange alternative transportation for the passenger or refund the unused portion of the ticket as requested by the passenger, without charging any related fees.

In cases where, due to the carrier's fault, a passenger with a confirmed seat on a flight is denied boarding, or the flight is canceled, or the flight is significantly delayed , the carrier is responsible for paying the passenger a non-refundable advance compensation in cash or other equivalent documents.

If the carrier is liable for damages under civil liability, this amount will be deducted from the civil liability compensation.

Conversely, the law also specifically stipulates the rights of passengers. Accordingly, if a passenger is denied transportation due to the carrier's fault, the passenger has the right to request the carrier to arrange a suitable alternative journey or a refund for the unused portion of the ticket or service.

The carrier will inform you of the carrier's liability limits for damages applicable in cases of passenger death, injury, damaged or lost baggage, and delayed transportation.

You will receive a refund for the ticket price or the equivalent amount for the unused portion of the ticket or service, after deducting any fees and penalties as stipulated in the ticket or transportation agreement.

Refusal to board a flight; if in transit, passengers have the right to refuse to continue their journey at any airport or mandatory landing point and are entitled to a refund of their ticket price or the corresponding amount for any unused portion of the ticket or service, after deducting any fees and penalties as stipulated by the airline.

Laodong.vn

Source: https://laodong.vn/thoi-su/hang-bay-phai-boi-thuong-cho-khach-bi-huy-chuyen-1623239.ldo