Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City is projected to serve over 4 million passengers during the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday (Photo: Hanoimoi.vn)
The number of passengers traveling through airports managed by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) during the 2025 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday is expected to reach 10.5 million, exceeding the 10 million recorded during the same period last year, according to Nguyen Dang Minh, head of ACV’s airport operations department.
With the holiday spanning nine days, passenger numbers are projected to surge during this peak period, Minh told the press on November 27, outlining ACV's plans for the upcoming Tet.
According to him, approximately 10% of aircraft of many Vietnamese airlines are currently being recalled by manufacturers for engine maintenance, creating a challenge for the aviation sector amid the rising demand.
Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City alone is projected to serve over 4 million passengers during the holiday, posing a significant challenge for airport management given the fact that the airport’s infrastructure has already been operating at full capacity, even beyond, during peak periods in recent years.
Against the backdrop, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has approved an increase in the maximum capacity of flights at airports. For example, Tan Son Nhat will ramp up its flights to 46 per hour between 5:00am and 11:55pm daily, a notable rise from the usual 38–40 flights. Additionally, five major airports in central Vietnam will operate around the clock during the holiday.
Technological advancements are also being employed to streamline operations. Turnaround times have been reduced to 25–42 minutes, down from about 60 minutes, improving fleet efficiency.
Airlines have been directed to adopt self-service check-in kiosks to ease congestion at traditional counters. They are also required to facilitate night flights to maximise passenger handling capacity.
For Tan Son Nhat, airport authorities are collaborating with ground transportation providers, including traditional taxis, ride-hailing services, and buses, to efficiently manage vehicle flow and ensure smooth passenger pickups.
Looking ahead, Minh expressed optimism about future improvements, saying that when the T3 terminal at Tan Son Nhat Airport becomes operational on April 30, 2025, passenger services there will be significantly improved./