Tan Son Nhat International Airport is gearing up for its busiest season, with an estimated 130,000 passengers per day during the 15-day peak period before and after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. The airport is set to operate an average of 820 flights daily to accommodate the surge.

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Tran Van Hoach provides updates on Tan Son Nhat’s Tet travel plans at the press conference. (Photo: H.V)

Increased flights and passenger volume

Speaking at a press conference on December 26 about Ho Chi Minh City’s socio-economic situation, Tran Van Hoach, Head of Service Quality and Air Transport Supervision at the Southern Airports Authority, provided insights into the airport's Tet preparations.

Currently, Tan Son Nhat serves over 600 flights daily, transporting more than 110,000 passengers. During the Tet peak period, this is expected to increase to 820 flights and 130,000 passengers each day.

While airlines continue to sell tickets, specific peak travel dates remain fluid. However, based on past experience, the busiest days are typically from the 26th to 28th of the lunar calendar before Tet and from the 5th to 7th after Tet.

Operational adjustments for Tet

To manage the high traffic, the Southern Airports Authority has adjusted flight scheduling parameters at Tan Son Nhat.

From December 22 to 29 of the lunar calendar and from the third to the twelfth day of Tet, the airport will operate at a maximum capacity of 48 flights per hour, averaging one flight every 1.25 minutes.

The airport is also coordinating with various agencies to enhance operations, including additional staff, upgraded equipment, and improved services to meet passenger demands effectively.

Traffic management around the airport

Authorities have called for stronger measures to manage traffic congestion around the airport.

The Southern Airports Authority has urged traffic police and inspectors to increase patrols, strictly handle violations such as unregistered transport services (illegal taxis) and unauthorized stops.

Traffic police are also requested to coordinate traffic flow early and implement measures to prevent bottlenecks in the airport vicinity.

Ho Van