Tarmac Delay Plan

In compliance with the tarmac delay rule issued by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), Vietnam Airlines has developed a tarmac delay plan to preserve the safety and security of our customers and to meet their essential needs during an extended tarmac delay.

This plan applies to all scheduled and non-scheduled flights operated by Vietnam Airlines to/from the United States, including codeshare flights and flights diverted to US airports due to irregular conditions.

1. Passengers are to be informed of tarmac delay including the reasons, if known:
- Immediately once a delay in known, and not later than 30 minutes after schedule departure time (including any revised departure time that passengers were notified about before boarding).
- Every 30 minutes thereafter that they have the opportunity to deplane from an aircraft that is at the gate or another disembarkation area with the door open if the opportunity to deplane actually exists.
- A further update will be made every 30 minutes while the aircraft is delayed.

2. Passengers are served with adequate food and portable water after the aircraft leaves the gate (in the case of departure) or touches down (in case of arrival) if the aircraft remains on the tarmac, unless the pilot – in – command determines that safety or security considerations preclude such service:

3. Passengers are served with operable lavatory facilities, as well as adequate medical attention if needed while the aircraft remains on the tarmac. Vietnam Airlines will also ensure a comfortable cabin temperature is maintained.

4. Passengers are not kept on the plane more than 04 hours from the commencement of the tarmac delay without the option to disembark.

5. The only exceptions that passengers are allowed on the aircraft longer than period mentioned above:
- In the event the pilot – in – command determines there is a safety and/or security reason for not permitting customer disembarkation
- Air traffic control advises the pilot – in – command that returning to gate or another disembarkation point elsewhere in order to deplane passengers would significantly disrupt airport operations.

6. Irregular handling:
- Adequate food and portable water are not provided if the pilot – in command determines that food and water service cannot be provided due to safety or security reasons. For example, when an airplane is taxing on an active runway, it may be unsafe for flight attendants to hand out food and water.
- If passengers are offered the opportunity to get off the plane during a tarmac delay, and the passengers choose to get off, passengers will be responsible to change their flights.
- If passengers decide to exit the aircraft during a tarmac delay and the aircraft eventually take off for it intended destination, VNA may not be required to offload that passenger’s checked baggage before the plane takes off. Passengers will need to contact VNA about returning your checked baggage at later time.

7. Vietnam Airlines has sufficient resources to implement this Plan.

8. Vietnam Airlines has coordinated this Plan with airport authorities (including terminal facility operators where applicable) at each U.S. airport that it serves, including regular U.S. diversion airports, and, if necessary, will work with airport authorities and other airlines to share facilities and make gates available in an emergency.

9. Vietnam Airlines has coordinated this Plan with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at each airport that we regularly use for international flights, including diversion airports, and with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at each U.S. airport that we serve, including regular U.S. diversion airports.