Deputy Minister of Transport Pham Quy Tieu acknowledged the low quality of services at the country’s two major international airports, Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat.

In a meeting with aviation authorities to improve airport and non-airport services in Hanoi on October 27, he attributed the situation to the airports’ weak infrastructure, staff attitudes, and operational and management strategies.

In addition to repairing and upgrading facilities, and expanding services and hygiene standards, the senior transport official asked the aviation authorities to improve staff members’ attitudes and stop the confusing taxi parking situation outside the airports.

Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport has the capacity to accommodate 9 million passengers a year, but it already catered for 11.5 million as of October 25. The airport is likely to handle 14 million passengers by the end of this year.

According to Vu The Phiet, Director of Noi Bai International Airport, once Terminal 2 is put into operation at the end of this year, Terminal 1, which opened in 2001, will be upgraded to meet passengers’ demand.

He confirmed he would install cameras to supervise airport staff and strictly punish violators.

The Vietnam Aviation Corporation (Vietnam Airlines) said it collaborated with Caitrax every year to assess the airport services provided at airports throughout the country.

Accordingly, services on the ground improved, but still do not satisfy passengers’ needs.

Caitrax said Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports are overloaded and lack conveyors and trolleys, taking up passengers’ time.-VNA