Ministry allows resumption of Vietnam’s 1st sleep pod service after 10-week suspension
Sunday, October 05, 2014, 17:50 GMT+7
The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has issued a document, allowing Vietnam Aviation Tourism Corp (VATC) to resume its provision of sleep pods – the first such service in Vietnam – at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.
The operators of the airport said on Sunday that VATC is preparing the necessary work to provide the service again soon.
On July 22, VATC inaugurated its sleep pods, which are box-like places for passengers of delayed or canceled flights to rest, at the T1 Terminal of the airport.
The firm halted the service only three days later, following a directive from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).
The CAAV said the provision of the new service then failed to meet safety requirements, as the agency had not received any plans on fire prevention and protection, layout drawings, and how the service would be offered.
CAAV chief Vo Huy Cuong told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in July that the authority had ordered the suspension of the sleep pod service, just one day after an inspection.
While the sleep pods did not occupy a large area at the terminal, the service had to be “temporarily ceased pending a new, more suitable plan to make the best use of them,” Cuong said.
However, by the end of last month, the management board of the airport had submitted a report on the ground layout and placement for the service, and a suggestion about its resumption.
As a result, the CAAV agreed to allow VATC to provide the service again.
This kind of service is common at airports around the world to serve passengers who wait for the next or transit flights, the CAAV said.
The VATC service offered 14 sleeping pods with three single and 11 double pods. Each pod is 4m long and 3m high, equipped with a bed, wardrobe, blanket, pillow, alarm clock, and clothes hangers.
Passengers were also served free drinks, snacks, and WiFi connections.
The well-equipped sleep pods were intended to serve passengers awaiting their flights with free water and snacks for prices ranging from VND210,000 (US$9.88) to VND252,000 ($11.86) for the first three hours.
While sleep pods are common at many international airports, it was the first time the modern facilities had been put to use at a Vietnamese terminal.
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
