HCM CITY — The country’s busiest airport, Tân Sơn Nhất in HCM City, has taken measures to cope with overload inside as well as on roads outside during Tết (the Lunar New Year) next month.

The airport is usually packed during Tết as people leave for their hometowns.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam, the number of passengers is expected to increase by 20 per cent this year to more than 4.1 million on a total of 26,288 flights.

Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Jetstar Pacific will increase the number of flights during Tết by 10-15 per cent from a year earlier.

Airport authorities have worked with airlines to improve ground services to cope with congestion during the year’s biggest holiday in three weeks’ time.

At the international terminal, two more aerobridges leading from the terminal to aircraft will be set up. There will also be four more departure gates, 20 more check-in counters and an additional luggage belt.

Two x-ray machines will also be added, taking the total number to 12.

At the domestic terminal, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Jetstar Pacific have installed 40 automatic check-in kiosks to add to the 130 traditional check-in counters.

Đặng Tuấn Tú, director of Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport, said passengers should check-in online or use the kiosks to avoid standing in long queues.

The domestic terminal will also have two additional x-ray machines, bringing the total number to 20.

Expansion of the check-in, waiting and boarding areas and the setting up of a few more boarding gates are expected to increase the capacity by 30 per cent.

Around 560 seats will be installed in the waiting area.

To reduce congestion on the runway, the airport will add one more taxiway, E8, parallel to the existing E6.

Six more aprons have been built to increase the number to 56.

Officials want passengers to arrive at least two hours before departure for local flights and three hours for international flights.

Cameras will be used at departure and arrival lounges, parking lots and other public areas to monitor unusual activities by passengers and others.

The maximum drop-off time for cars in front of the terminal is three minutes.

If they want to stop longer, passengers must park their cars in one of the five parking floors in front of the domestic terminal. Violations shall be penalised by the Inspectorate of the Department of Transport.

The airport authorities have also taken measures to ease congestion on roads leading to the airport, speeding up work to expand existing roads and build new ones.

This year officials expect severe congestion at the airport gates, especially during peak hours.

The Tân Bình District police, traffic inspectors and Police Unit No 113 will patrol public areas to ensure traffic order and safety.

The New Year falls on February 16 this year.

Tân Sơn Nhất is overloaded both in the sky and on the ground, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam.

In 2016 the airport handled some 33 million passengers, 28 per cent more than the number expected by authorities 2020. Every day the airport sees some 40,000 cars go in and out. — VNS