VietNamNet Bridge – The Ho Chi Minh City-based Tan Son Nhat international airport will begin work on the expansion of its terminals in 2014 in order to receive 25 million passengers by 2017, according to an airport executive.

Tan Son Nhat international airport. -- Photo: SGT

Director Dang Tuan Tu added that the domestic terminal will be expanded to have a floor space of 39,450 square metres, capable of serving 12 million passengers a year.

There will be 20 more check-in stalls and two lounges in the international terminal to enable its handling of 13 million passengers per year, Tu further said.

The official, however, noted that the maximal 25 million passenger capacity by 2017 will put pressure on the airport’s staff to further improve their services.

He laid stress on the need to construct Long Thanh international airport in HCM City’s neighbouring province of Dong Nai to ease the burden on Tan Son Nhat airport.

There are 44 airlines operating domestic and international flights to and from Tan Son Nhat.

On December 23, the airport welcomed the 20 millionth passenger on flight VN231 conducted by Vietnam Airlines.

The carrier has so far this year carried 9.4 million passengers to and from Tan Son Nhat, accounting for 46 percent of its total passengers.

Source: Vietnam Plus