Vietnam's most modern airport terminal sees first flight

THE HANOI TIMES — The first flight departing from the new Terminal T3 at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) took off on April 17 and landed two hours later at Van Don Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh, operated by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines.

Costing an investment of VND11 trillion (US$425 million), Terminal T3 is the country's most modern terminal, designed to increase the capacity of the biggest international airport in Vietnam.

By the end of April, all Vietnam Airlines domestic flights will officially operate from this new terminal, with the exception of flights connecting HCMC to Con Dao, Ca Mau and Rach Gia, which will continue to depart from/land at Terminal T1.

Terminal T3 will handle nearly 80% of all domestic flights at Tan Son Nhat Airport and a throughput of 20 million passengers per year, making it the largest domestic terminal in Vietnam.

The T3 construction project consists of four main components: the passenger terminal, a multi-storey car park integrated with non-aviation services, the terminal access road and aircraft aprons.

According to the ACV, Terminal T3 has been undergoing internal testing of all technical systems, passenger services and aviation security since April 10.

The operation of the first commercial flight requires more than 1,000 security, ground service, baggage handling and airport operations personnel, all of whom have already undergone the required training. Among them, the check-in counter staff has been trained to help passengers familiarize themselves with the modern equipment.

Besides, a team of volunteer guides was mobilized to assist passengers in key areas such as the terminal lobby, check-in counters, security screening zones and boarding gates during the first week of operations.

Immigration control at the T3 terminal is equipped with facial recognition technology for passenger identification, as well as electronic travel document and ticket verification.

"The Southern Aviation Authority has intensified the monitoring of service quality and ensured aviation safety during the period prior to the official operation of Terminal T3, as well as during the current operation of Terminals T1 and T2," said Uong Viet Dung, Director of the Vietnam Aviation Administration, during the initial period of Terminal T3 operation.

According to the plan, Vietnam Airlines will continue to pilot flights departing from Terminal T3 to Van Don Airport on April 24. This will be followed by flights between HCMC and the capital city of Hanoi, which will also operate on April 28 to test the actual operational capacity of the terminal.

Terminal T3 is scheduled to be inaugurated on April 30 as part of activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and Vietnam National Reunification (April 30, 1975 – 2025).