Vietnam is seriously considering flight reductions starting in April

The Vietnamese aviation sector is about to face a period of critical turbulence following a major warning issued by national regulatory authorities regarding an impending fuel shortage.

Due to the escalating conflict with Iran, China and Thailand have taken the drastic step of suspending their kerosene exports, an alarming situation for Vietnam, which imports more than two-thirds of its total fuel needs, 60% of which depend directly on these two strategic neighbors.

In an official document dated March 9, 2026, addressed to the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) formally warned of a potential fuel shortage starting in early April and continuing into the following months.

Faced with this energy emergency, the regulator ordered domestic airlines, such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, and Bamboo Airways, to urgently revise their flight schedules, particularly targeting domestic routes and prioritizing strategic international routes.

At the same time, airport operators were instructed to prepare additional parking spaces to accommodate fleets that might be grounded due to fuel shortages.

This crisis underscores the vulnerability of Vietnamese air transport to global geopolitical instability and could lead to a significant increase in ticket prices or mass cancellations in the coming weeks.