Indochina Airlines halt flights leaving passengers grounded

The news that private air carrier Indochina Airlines has halted flights has left booking agents fearing lost deposits while passengers fear for flights.

On October 19, Le Tuan in HCM City purchased two tickets for the HCM City-Hanoi flight via Indochina Airlines’ website at 2.1 million dong. Tuan has paid his cash and received tickets, and had hoped to take the VP882 flight scheduled for 12.55 pm on January 8, 2010.

However, news of financial problems faced by Indochina Airlines has left Tuan concerned – especially when he hears the air carrier has had to return its only aircraft to its foreign partner.

Fearing for his flight plans, on November 14, he called the customers’ care operator at 08.354718090.  His aim was to cancel the flight and make arrangements with another airline instead.

Tuan said that he had decided to fly with Indochina Airlines because of the cost and flight hours fitting his time.

“I could not find any suitable flight hours from other airlines on October 19, therefore, I decided to choose Indochina Airlines. At that time, I did not know much about the air carrier’s financial problems,” he said.

On November 14, Indochina Airlines accepted cancelation of his air ticket and promised to refund the sum of 2.1 million dong.

“However, I have not received a refund over the last month. I called the customer care operator, but no one answered my call. The airline’s website has also shut down. I don’t know where I can claim now,” Tuan said.

Tuan is not the only case. Chanh, another passenger of Indochina Airlines, related that he flew to Hanoi on a business trip in late October. However, the scheduled return trip scheduled for November 5 never happened, because the airline announced the stopping of flights. Chanh could not contact Indochina Airlines to change the trip and had to spend his own money to purchase tickets from another airline to fly back to HCM City.

Chanh said that he had intended to sue Indochina Airlines. “However, I have learnt that they (Indochina Airlines) are facing big difficulties and I do not want to make the problem more serious,” Chanh said.

While passengers are complaining they cannot fly despite having tickets, booking agents are complaining they facing the risk of losing deposit money.

Tuan, a booking agent on Ly Thuong Kiet Street in Hanoi, said Indochina Airlines did not inform booking agents of its plans to halt flights.

“When we called the hot line, no one answered. We also cannot contact the ther relevant person on mobile phone. We don’t know what we should do to reclaim the deposit money,” Tuan said.

Meanwhile, Do Anh Tuan, commercial director of Indochina Airlines said the air carrier has not received any feedback from passengers. He, however, insisted that all the passengers who have purchased tickets from Indochina Airlines will receive reimbursement or will be able to fly with other airlines.

He requested booking agents continue to cooperate with the airline and wait some more time. However, if they prefer to they can contact the airline directly to terminate contracts. Tuan says affirmed all such procedures will be completed within seven days.

Vietnam Airlines’ general director Ha Hung Dung, when talking with VnExpress’ reporters, says the airline will resume flights in December.

VietNamNet/VNE

Tags: Indochina Airlines, Vietnam aviation