Aircraft of Vietjet Air at Da Nang airport (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) hasissued an urgent document requesting three airports in the central region tosuspend operation on September 18, the day storm Noul is slated to land in theregion.
Specifically,Chu Lai airport (Quang Nam province) is required to close from 04:00 to 8:00,Da Nang airport (Da Nang city) from 05:00 to 20:00 and Phu Bai airport (Huecity in Thua Thien-Hue province) from 06:00 to 21:00 (all local time) duringthe day.
Otherairports in the region, namely Dong Hoi, Vinh, Pleiku, Phu Cat and Tuy Hoa,along with airlines, airports authorities and the Vietnam Air TrafficManagement Corporation, are instructed to closely follow the weather situationand make prompt reports to the CAAV’s command for natural disaster control andsearch and rescue.
Airlineshave also announced they will cancel and postpone flights on routes to/from thethree airports.
VietnamAirlines said it will operate 22 additional flights on the affected routes onSeptember 19 to compensate for the cancelled ones. Passengers are urged to keepupdated with the airline’s official website and Facebook page, ticket officesor customers’ hotline.
Noul, the fifth storm to enter the East Sea this year, is gaining strength, heading to the central region of Vietnam and is expected to make landfall on September 18.
The storm is forecast to directly affect central provinces, especially Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang with wind speeds of 90-100 km per hour and sometimes hitting 135 km per hour.
Heavy rain will blanket the central provinces from September 17 afternoon to September 18 night, bringing high risks of flash flood and landslides in the central region./.
