Vietnam's Largest Airports Struggle with Punctuality in 2025 Rankings

Photo courtesy of VN Express

Vietnam's major airports, Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat, have found themselves near the bottom in the "World's Best Airports 2025" ranking, primarily due to poor on-time performance. Released by AirHelp, a leading authority in flight compensation services, these rankings assessed 250 airports globally, focusing on three key criteria: punctuality, customer opinion, and quality of food and retail services.

Noi Bai Airport, serving Hanoi, landed in 242nd place with an overall score of 6.71 out of 10. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat Airport scored even lower, ranking 248th with 6.21. Neither airport had appeared in the previous year's top 100 list.

In the evaluation details, Noi Bai earned a score of 6.4 for on-time performance, 7.2 for customer satisfaction, and 7.1 for the food, beverage, and shopping experience. Tan Son Nhat, on the other hand, received a worrisome 6.1 for punctuality, among the lowest of those ranked.

The significance of these rankings largely rests on on-time performance, which constitutes 60% of the total score, overshadowing the 20% influence each of customer satisfaction and food and beverage quality carry. Despite outperforming the US-based Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in non-punctuality categories, Noi Bai's poor on-time score led to its dismal position.

For perspective, Cape Town International Airport in South Africa topped the list this year with a formidable 8.57 overall score, while Doha Hamad Airport in Qatar secured the second spot.

The results highlight a crucial area for improvement for Vietnam’s airports, especially given the high weight of punctuality in determining overall rankings. This focus on timeliness reflects growing demands from passengers prioritising reliability in their travel plans.

Travellers and airport authorities in Vietnam are keenly aware that enhancements in this area could significantly boost future standings. Improved flight schedules and operational processes could potentially elevate the airports' reputations on the global stage.

In the broader picture, these rankings serve both as a wake-up call and an opportunity for Vietnamese airports to address these challenges and evolve to meet international standards more effectively. As competition among international airports intensifies, maintaining high punctuality will be crucial in attracting travellers and improving global perceptions.

These findings, while disheartening, provide a clear directive for action, inviting airports to better align with passenger expectations and set new benchmarks in service and efficiency. If successful, these efforts may well see Vietnam's key airports soar to greater heights in future assessments.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-07-31