HCMC – Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC is expected to handle a record high of 148,000 passengers on February 14, the fifth and final day of the week-long Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.
Some 90,000 passengers will be arriving at the airport today while more than 58,000 passengers will be departing, primarily on domestic flights.
The surge in passenger traffic is attributed to large numbers of Tet revelers returning to HCMC from central and northern provinces after the national holiday. This figure surpasses the previous record of 137,000 passengers set on February 13, according to the Southern Airports Authority.
Most one-way flights from northern provinces to HCMC have been fully booked. Passengers seeking to return to the southern city have limited options, with only connecting flights available at significantly higher fares.
For instance, connecting flights from Hanoi to HCMC ranged from VND5 million to VND19 million. Local airlines have to operate additional empty flights to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.
Authorities at local airports have taken measures to manage the rise in passenger traffic, including mobilizing additional staff and streamlining check-in and security procedures.
