Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City recorded nearly 700 out of 1,100 flights either delayed or canceled during the first three days of February, with bad weather to blame.

Many passengers expressed concerns about potential flight delays and cancelations, especially given that Tet is just a week away.

These flights were mainly transporting passengers from the southern metropolis to other localities, according to statistics from the Tan Son Nhat Operation Control Center.

Bad weather, triggered by dense fog, in the northern region hampered flights from taking off or landing, resulting in flight disruptions in Ho Chi Minh City.

Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, promptly issued a directive asking relevant units to ensure air traffic efficiency during the peak period ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

A dense mist enveloped the majority of airports in the northern region on February 2 and 3, disrupting flight operations due to severely limited visibility, the aviation authority said.

Impacts from the bad weather on flights were predicted to last until February 8, or the 29th day of the 12th lunar month, according to the national weather center.

A representative of a local air carrier told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that all airlines tried their best to ease congestion at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

As of early Sunday morning, all affected passengers have successfully boarded their aircraft to return to their hometowns, gearing up for Tet celebrations

The weather is an unavoidable issue, and it has taken a heavy toll on airlines, said the representative.

If a flight is delayed, it will cause a domino effect on others, the representative explained.

To smooth air traffic flows, the aviation authority urged air carriers to sketch out scenarios for their flight schedules.

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