Passengers at Nội Bài International Airport on Wednesday in Hà Nội.—VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hùng

HÀ NỘI — Airports welcomed nearly 37 million passengers in the first four months of this year, 55 per cent higher than the same period last year.

The passengers consist of 9.7 million foreign passengers, an increase of 976 per cent compared to the same period last year, and 27.2 million domestic passengers, an increase of 18 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam showed that domestic airlines carried 18.2 million passengers, including 4.6 million foreign visitors, in the first four months of the year, an increase of 56 per cent over the same period last year.

In April, airports across the country welcomed 9.17 million passengers, about 2 per cent higher than the last month.

During the holidays from April 29 to May 3, two international airports of Nội Bài and Tân Sơn Nhất welcomed 1.2 million passengers.

Specifically, Nội Bài International Airport served nearly 2,700 flights and more than 422,000 passengers, while Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport received approximately 756,000 passengers and 4,466 flights.

While the number of international and domestic passengers is growing strongly, the volume of goods transported through airports has decreased sharply compared to last year.

In the first four months of this year, only 378,400 tonnes of goods were transported by air, about 24.3 per cent lower than the same period last year.

The volume of international cargo decreased severely, reaching 272,000 tonnes, about 32.1 per cent lower than last year.

The reason for the situation was because last year, the COVID-19 pandemic was complex and transporting goods by air was the most convenient way, despite the high price.

However, this year, the pandemic is well controlled; transporting goods by road and waterway are favourite of people and businesses because of convenience and cheaper prices. — VNS