CAAV has applied a slot exemption mechanism and adjusted the minimum slot chain length in response to the Middle East conflict. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) issued a letter to airlines operating to and from Vietnam, to the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) and other airports regarding the implementation of the slot exemption policy prompted by the Middle East conflict.
CAAV says that this mechanism is implemented based on current regulations, the requests of airlines, the recommendation of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on April 1 about 'Justified Non-use of Slots' (JNUS), and the views of the Slot Coordination Council at Vietnamese airports.
Under this policy, flights affected in the period from February 28, 2026 to June 30, 2026 will be exempt from slot usage.
For Middle East–based airlines—Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways—the slots returned due to non-use or improper use during February 28, 2026 to March 28, 2026 will still be considered as used when determining the historical slot requirement for the Winter 2026-2027 schedule.
Additionally, slots confirmed up to the Baseline Date (HBD) for historical slots, if returned due to non-use or misusage in the period from March 29, 2026 to June 30, 2026, will also be considered as used when monitoring the revocation of the Summer 2026 slot chain and when calculating historical slots for Summer 2027.
For Vietnamese and other foreign airlines, slots confirmed up to the HBD during March 29, 2026 to June 30, 2026, if returned before May 15, 2026, will also be considered as used when monitoring the revocation of the Summer 2026 flight schedule and when calculating historical slots for Summer 2027.
CAAV notes that after June 30, 2026, it will continue to monitor the Middle East conflict and fluctuations in Jet A-1
fuel prices to assess the possibility of extending the exemption period.
In addition, the authority also adjusts the minimum length of the slot chain. Specifically, the minimum slot chain length will remain at five weeks as per Circular 29/2021 of the Ministry of Transport; the implementation of a 10-week minimum will be postponed to the Winter 2027 schedule.
A slot is the take-off and landing window allocated to airlines at an airport. It is a critical basis for airlines to plan schedules and maintain rights for future seasons. Typically, if a carrier does not use a slot or uses it improperly, the slot may be revoked. The exemption will help airlines retain the slots that have been allocated.
