VASCO flight VN8020, scheduled to depart Can Tho airport for Da Lat at 8 a.m. on 28/8 using an ATR aircraft, faced an initial delay. Passengers checking in around 7 a.m. were informed the flight was postponed until 5 p.m. due to a technical problem with the aircraft.

That afternoon, the 70 passengers boarded the plane for the rescheduled flight. However, as the aircraft taxied towards the takeoff area, the technical issue recurred.

A passenger from Can Tho recounted, "The plane taxied, then stopped. About 10 minutes later, the captain announced a technical malfunction, requiring us to return to the terminal."

Passengers boarding the Can Tho - Da Lat flight on the afternoon of 28/8. *Photo: Nguyen Anh*.

All passengers were escorted back to the waiting area. Approximately one hour later, the airline announced the problem could not be resolved, returned luggage, and rescheduled the flight for the morning of 29/8. Passengers who chose not to continue their journey received refunds.

Some passengers reported having booked hotel rooms in Da Lat for the 2/9 holiday. They had to cancel their plans and lost deposits due to the flight change.

On 29/8, Nguyen Dong Nguyen, Chief Representative of the Southern Airports Authority in Can Tho, confirmed that the Can Tho - Da Lat route had resumed operations that morning. Affected passengers were rebooked or refunded and compensated according to regulations.

VASCO also added an extra Can Tho - Da Lat flight on 29/8 to accommodate passengers.

Can Tho International Airport has a designed capacity of 3-5 million passengers annually. It currently operates domestic routes to Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Vinh, Da Nang, Con Dao, Phu Quoc, and Da Lat. The Can Tho - Da Lat route resumed service from 19/8.

An Binh