Airlines cancel dozens of Central Vietnam flights as storm Kalmaegi approaches
DNO - Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Vasco have canceled or adjusted dozens of flights to central Vietnam on November 6 - 7 as Typhoon Kalmaegi bears down on the region with destructive winds and heavy rain.
As reported by Tuoi Tre (Youth)Newspaper, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced the cancellation of at least 6 flights to the Phu Cat Airport (Binh Dinh) on November 6 - 7, including VN1390, VN1391, VN1394, and VN1395 on November 6 and VN1392 and VN1393 on November 7.
Several other flights have been rescheduled.
The carrier will also cancel flights VN1650 and VN1651 between Hanoi and Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen) on November 6 and delay four additional flights between Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Tuy Hoa until after noon on November 7.
On the Ho Chi Minh City - Chu Lai (Quang Nam) route, flights VN1640 and VN1641 on November 7 between Ha Noi and Chu Lai will depart after 10 a.m.
Other schedule adjustments include moving up flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Pleiku (Gia Lai), Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak) and Hue to before noon on November 6, and delaying several Ha Noi-bound services on November 7.
In total, more than 50 Vietnam Airlines flights are expected to be affected.
Vietjet Air has canceled at least 14 flights on November 6, including routes between Da Nang - Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City - Da Lat, Ha Noi - Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City - Tuy Hoa, Ha Noi - Quy Nhon, Ho Chi Minh City - Quy Nhon, and Ho Chi Minh City - Chu Lai.
Some services, such as Thanh Hoa - Da Lat, have had departure times adjusted.
Vasco has also canceled two flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Lien Khuong (Lam Dong) on November 6.
All carriers have advised passengers to fasten their seat belts throughout flights due to expected turbulence and to stay updated on schedule changes.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 8 p.m. on November 5, Typhoon Kalmaegi’s center was about 220 km from Song Tu Tay Island and 760 km from Quy Nhon (Gia Lai), with sustained winds of 166 km/h (category 14), gusting up to category 17.
The storm is forecast to make landfall over Quang Ngai - Gia Lai - Dak Lak early on November 7 with winds up to category 12, gusting to 15.