The Northern Airports Authority on July 18 temporarily shut down the operation of Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport on worries about the impact of the Talim storm.

Noi Bai International Airport, north of Hanoi, is affected by heavy rains. Photo: Nguyen Quy/The Hanoi Times

The closure will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 18 to ensure the safety of aircraft and passengers. The decision will be communicated to domestic and foreign airlines by the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation.

Due to the Talim storm, Van Don and Cat Bi airports in Quang Ninh Province and the coastal city of Haiphong will also be closed between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on July 18.

On July 17, the Vietnam Department of Civil Aviation sent an urgent request to all northern airports and airlines to take drastic measures to prevent damage from the Talim storm.

The authority warned key northern airports, including Noi Bai, Van Don, Cat Bi and Tho Xuan airports, of strong winds and heavy rains.

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air have changed the routes and schedules of domestic and international flights in the northern region.

The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, has canceled 54 flights, affecting about 8,500 passengers, while 89 flights have been delayed, affecting another 15,000.

Vietjet Air canceled 28 flights and delayed 104 domestic and international flights. Meanwhile, Vietravel Airlines is postponing several flights connecting Hanoi with Danang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Talim is the first tropical storm to make landfall in Vietnam in 2023. At noon on July 18, the storm weakened to 88 kilometers per hour winds when it was 50 kilometers off the coast of Mong Cai City in Quang Ninh Province.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) has forecast that there will be two or three more tropical depressions and storms this year.