Tan Son Nhat Airport is no longer 'suffocating' during the September 2nd holiday thanks to terminal T3 'sharing the burden'

Instead of the familiar crowded scene, in the first days of the September 2nd holiday, Tan Son Nhat airport, the busiest airport in the country, operated smoothly thanks to the "sharing of the load" of terminal T3 and a series of new technological solutions.

Passengers queue up to check in for security on the afternoon of August 30 at Tan Son Nhat Terminal T3 - Photo: CONG TRUNG

People were surprised because the stuffy scene was no longer there.

On the afternoon of August 30, Tuoi Tre Online recorded that at the domestic terminals T1 and T3, the airport was packed with passengers, mostly families taking their children home or traveling . But unlike previous peak seasons, the atmosphere was no longer tense. Many passengers said they no longer felt "suffocated" by the crowds during the holidays like before.

At Terminal T3, the Vietnam Airlines area is crowded but is guided and divided into lanes smoothly by ground service staff. The Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, and Vietravel Airlines halls are airy.

Meanwhile, the busiest time at the Vietjet counter at Terminal T1 is between 4pm and 5pm, but staff constantly remind and prioritize passengers who check in close to their flight time.

Mr. Nguyen Binh (Binh Thanh Ward) said he booked tickets two months ago because he was afraid that prices would increase near the holiday. At first, he was worried that the newly opened T3 would be chaotic, but in reality, the check-in process was very quick.

Thanks to online check-in from home, it only took about 20 minutes to go through the screening. He said last year at this time, he had to wait in line for nearly an hour, his child was fussy and crying, and the whole family was exhausted.

"This year is completely different. The lobby is spacious, the staff is enthusiastic, and we can move around comfortably, so the whole family started the holiday with a much more relaxed mood," said Mr. Binh.

On September 2nd holiday, passengers were surprised because Tan Son Nhat was no longer stuffy thanks to the opening of Terminal T3 - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Why is Tan Son Nhat more open?

According to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, during this year's holiday, the airport will operate about 730 flights per day, serving 125,000 passengers, a 6% increase compared to normal. The two peak days of August 30 and September 2 are expected to reach 750 flights with 130,000 passengers. Compared to the same period last year, the number of passengers has increased but the overload situation has been controlled.

An aviation expert explains three main factors.

Firstly, the T3 terminal with an investment capital of 11,000 VND has effectively "shared the burden" with the T1 terminal. Previously, the T1 terminal was designed for 15 million passengers but often had to bear twice that.

From April 2025, Terminal T3 will be put into operation with a capacity of 20 million passengers/year and currently receives all domestic flights of Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Vasco, while Terminal T1 only has Vietjet, helping to significantly reduce pressure.

Second is supporting technology. The new terminal T3 has applied biometric identification for passengers to pass through the gate quickly. Along with that, online check-in has become a habit, significantly shortening queuing time.

Third, proactive coordination. The port flexibly arranges check-in counters and baggage conveyor belts; synchronously updates information on the FIDS board at T1, T2, and T3 to avoid going to the wrong terminal. Airlines are required to be on duty at the counter and gate to quickly handle delays and cancellations.

In fact, in previous years, the scene of queuing hundreds of meters in front of the screening area, and delayed flights due to overloading were almost "specialties" at Tan Son Nhat. This September 2nd holiday shows a clear change. The opening of T3 is just the first step but is an important turning point in adding infrastructure, applying technology, and organizing operations more scientifically.

A representative of Tan Son Nhat International Airport confirmed that they have developed detailed scenarios for each time frame, closely coordinating with airlines and ground service units to ensure convenient and safe travel for passengers, maintaining the image of a civilized and modern airport.

Passengers leisurely at terminal T3 - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Terminal T1 is currently only operated by Vietjet. Passengers wait to check in at hall B on the afternoon of August 30 - Photo: CONG TRUNG

According to statistics, during this year's holiday, Tan Son Nhat airport operates about 730 flights/day, serving 125,000 passengers, an increase of 6% compared to usual - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Meanwhile, T1 is still the most crowded at Vietjet counter during the 4-5 p.m. time frame, but staff constantly remind and prioritize passengers close to their flight time to check in first - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Departure hall at T1 terminal in Vietjet area, passenger cars lined up in an orderly manner, no chaos occurred - Photo: CONG TRUNG

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/san-bay-tan-son-nhat-het-nghet-tho-dip-le-2-9-nho-nha-ga-t3-chia-lua-2025083018021013.htm