On the afternoon of February 21 (the fifth day of Tet), the airport recorded over 1,000 flights, including 520 departures and 517 arrivals. Departures comprised 355 domestic and 165 international services, while arrivals included 356 domestic and 161 international flights.
Despite the sharp increase in passenger numbers, prolonged congestion did not occur, which was attributed to efficient allocation across terminals T1, T2 and T3, along with improved slot management.
Terminal T1 handled 128 departures and 126 arrivals, while Termial 3 operated 225 departures and 227 arrivals. Terminal T2 managed 162 departures and 158 arrivals, serving more than 60,000 international passengers.
Passenger traffic at Tan Son Nhat is expected to remain high in the coming days as workers and students return to Ho Chi Minh City after the Tet holiday.
Beyond the return to work, many are using the period for spring trips. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, 33, from Ha Tinh Province, said: “I worked throughout Tet in Ho Chi Minh City, and today my family and I are travelling to Dong Hoi for a holiday.”
Airport security has been deployed at full capacity to manage traffic and ensure vehicles do not exceed permitted stopping times.
On February 21, departures totalled 68,273 passengers (37,977 domestic and 30,296 international), while arrivals reached 101,436 (71,221 domestic and 30,215 international).
Earlier, on the fourth day of Tet, the airport handled 1,037 flights carrying 170,798 passengers. The third day recorded 970 flights with 151,177 passengers, while the second day saw 906 flights and 142,993 passengers.
Forecasts show passenger traffic could exceed 165,000 a day during the coming peak period, surpassing initial projections.
The airport authority has repeatedly broadcast warnings about illegal taxis and fake ride-hailing drivers soliciting passengers, while strictly banning unauthorised pick-ups and drop-offs within the airport.