Tan Son Nhat Airport tightens security for holidays

HCM City (VNA) - Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City-based Tan Son Nhat International Airport are increasing deployment of personnel during the upcoming holidays to ensure smooth movement of people and vehicles.

This year’s National Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labour Day (May 1) holidays fall on Saturday and Sunday and so the next two days are national holidays.

The long weekend means people will travel in huge numbers and airports are likely to be congested.

Dang Ngoc Cuong, Director of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, said six domestic airlines and 39 international ones operate routinely from/to the airport.

Some 10,000 international visitors and more than 58,000 local passengers pass through it daily.

More than 9,000 contracted cars and traditional and technology-based taxis serve them every day.

The authorities recommend that passengers book a car in advance or travel by public buses.

It plans to open more D1 and D2 lanes for technology-based vehicles and more exits from the terminals.

To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, the airport authorities have asked all airlines, especially domestic, to provide accurate flight schedules and passenger volumes during peak days to have enough security personnel on duty.

There will be regular patrols to promptly clear congestion both inside the airport and on roads outside.

The airport’s two runways have been reopened after extensive upgrades, enabling an increase in the frequency of flights from 32-33 an hour to 40-44.

Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, VASCO, and Bamboo Airways have all increased the frequency of flights on key routes during the holidays. They also have late-night flights to meet the skyrocketing demand./.