Hanoi’s nap pods closed

HANOI, 30 July 2014: Just days after introducing nap pods at Hanoi’s international airport the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has halted operations claiming there had been complaints and accusations of a lack of transparency.
Local media reported that the CAAV deputy director, Vo Huy Cuon, had ordered a review of the nap pods after complaints that suggested they were being used to earn a profit at the expense of passengers.
Most international airports, worldwide, provide ‘nap zones’ for passengers facing flight delays. There is nothing new about the service and suggestions that flights are being delayed deliberately to generate nap pod rentals are likely to fall into the category of wild accusations.
However, the CAAV referred to “public opinion” which charged that Vietnam Airlines Tourism Company (VATC) was exploiting passengers and allegedly manipulating flight delays to sell pod rentals.
Although the accusations were not substantiated and some observers said they were unbelievable considering the losses airlines would suffer from delayed flights, the nap pods have closed until further notice.
The CAAV decided to halt the operation so it can conduct a review to see if there is any evidence or base for accusations.
On 22 July, VATC installed the 14 nap pods (three single and 11 double enclosed apartments) in Terminal 1.
Each pod covers an area of 4 square metres and is three metres high. It is equipped with a bed, a drawer, an alarm clock and clothes hangers.
The pods cost USD9.88 for single room and USD11.86 for doubles, to use for the first three hours. The next three hours USD8.47 and USD10 for single and double rooms, respectively. The full-day rate is USD72 for single room and USD86 for doubles.

Sourced: ttrweekly