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How are passengers compensated for flight delays and cancellations under the new regulation? The Government issued Decree No. 208/2026/ND-CP dated June 15, 2026 on aviation transport. Notably, it sets out the obligations to assist and compensate passengers when flights are delayed, canceled, or schedule changes occur. Passengers are entitled to compensation when the flight is delayed by 4 hours due to the carrier's fault. The flight schedule reference is the published schedule used by the carrier to book and sell tickets to passengers, updated to 15:00 (Hanoi time)—the data-cutoff time—for the day preceding the planned operation. The published flight schedule must be publicly accessible on the carrier's website for domestic flights. A flight is considered delayed if its actual departure time is more than 15 minutes later than the scheduled departure time used as the reference flight schedule. A prolonged delay is a delay of 4 hours or more relative to the reference schedule. Under Government regulations, when a flight is delayed, the airline must promptly notify, apologize to passengers and state the reasons for the delay. The airline must also update the estimated new departure time to the airport operator and to the terminal operator so it is displayed on the flight information display at the airport with a frequency of at least every 30 minutes. If the delay is 2 hours or more, the airline must provide a beverage or issue an equivalent voucher to the passenger. Within the service scope, the airline is also obliged to reschedule travel time or change the itinerary so that the passenger reaches the journey's final destination upon request, exempt from restrictions on itinerary changes or flight changes and any related surcharges (if any) for delays caused by the carrier. If the delay is 3 hours or more, the airline is not obliged to provide meals or an equivalent voucher. If the delay is 4 hours or more, the airline must refund the full ticket price or the unused portion of the ticket, and also pay in advance a non-refundable compensation to a passenger who has a confirmed seat and a ticket on the flight. If the delay is 6 hours or more and the delay falls between 7:00 and 22:00, the airline must arrange suitable resting facilities at the airport under actual conditions. If the delay extends from 22:00 the previous day to before 7:00 the next day, the airline must arrange sleeping facilities or an alternative solution with passenger consent. The carrier's obligations to provide meals, drinks, and rest apply only to passengers with a valid ticket, seat confirmed, and present at the airport. The Government Decree also prescribes cases where there are passengers on board; the airline must provide beverages, ensure cabin ventilation and temperature, and meet sanitary needs for passengers. In case of emergency medical assistance, the carrier must provide appropriate medical assistance. If a flight is delayed more than 3 hours and the departure time is not determined, the carrier must allow passengers to disembark, except for safety or security reasons. In case of flight cancellation due to the carrier's fault, the Government requires airlines to provide passengers with options to consider and choose. Option 1: a suitable itinerary change or transfer to another flight to reach the journey's final destination, with exemptions from restrictions on itinerary changes or flight changes and related surcharges (if any) for the passenger. Option 2: a full refund of the ticket price or the unused portion. This Decree takes effect from July 1.
