In what cases is air travel free?

From January 1, 2025, Circular No. 44/2024, issued by the Ministry of Transport, which stipulates the mechanisms and policies for managing the prices of domestic air transport services and specialized aviation services, will officially come into effect.

According to the new regulations, many categories of people will be exempt from the fees for using certain aviation services.

Specifically, for aircraft takeoff and landing services; air traffic control services for arrivals and departures; and air traffic control services through the flight information region managed by Vietnam, the following are exempt from service fees: special flights, official flights, search and rescue flights, flights transporting humanitarian aid, flood and natural disaster relief, and other humanitarian missions.

Many passenger categories will be exempt from fees for certain airline services starting January 1, 2025 (Illustrative image).

In addition, flights that, after taking off at a Vietnamese airport, have to return and land at their point of origin due to force majeure (weather, technical issues, passenger emergencies, terrorism, crime, or at the request of competent state authorities) are also exempt from fees for the use of these services.

For aviation security services, the following are exempt from service fees: goods sent via diplomatic channels, humanitarian aid; goods and spare parts exported for repair and supplies and items of airlines serving flights (excluding duty-free goods sold on flights); passengers on flights that are exempt from service fees as stipulated.

At the same time, passengers transiting within 24 hours (excluding passengers transiting for domestic-international connecting flights and vice versa) will not be charged for aviation security services, but this will only apply if the arrival and departure legs from Vietnam are on the same passenger and baggage ticket.

In addition, this includes flight crew members (including those transferring airports), and children under 2 years old (calculated at the time of departure of the first leg of the journey).

Regarding the use of passenger services, there are certain passengers who are exempt from service fees. These include passengers on flights that are exempt from service fees; passengers transiting within 24 hours (excluding passengers transiting for domestic-international connecting flights and vice versa) – this only applies if the arrival and departure legs from Vietnam are on the same passenger and baggage ticket; flight crew members (including those flying via connecting airports); and children under 2 years old (calculated at the time of departure of the first leg of the journey).

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/mien-phi-su-dung-dich-vu-hang-khong-trong-truong-hop-nao-192241211120658034.htm