Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi may have to handle up to 104,000 passengers and 580 flights on the busiest day during Tet (the Lunar New Year).

Passengers check in for their flights at Noi Bai International Airport. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Airport authorities estimate that a quarter of passengers and about 31% of flights will be international.

The number of flights and passengers arriving at the airport will soar during the upcoming Tet holiday, following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last summer, Noi Bai International Airport handled 634 flights and 106,000 passengers on its busiest day.

Airport authorities also stated that the number of flights and passengers in the next Tet may account for 75% of the figures recorded during the Lunar New Year 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic took its toll on the global aviation industry.

To ensure passenger safety, airport authorities will activate the Level 1 security protocol from January 16 to 28, 2023. Law enforcement will conduct random inspections of passengers and belongings going through the security checkpoint. Specifically, airport security personnel will be increased by 20% to ensure efficient operations. In addition, the airport will provide as many security counters and scanners as possible in case the number of flights increases.

The information-technology system will help calculate the number of passengers and flights in different areas of the airport to enable effective distribution of workload among employees, officers, and devices.

Agents will also take turns at the Airport Operations Control Center (AOCC) 24/7 to ensure that all problems and incidents are resolved immediately.

Airport authorities asked passengers to use public transport to avoid the expected heavy traffic. They will work with the local police department to regulate the flow of traffic to keep the roads clear and make it easier for passengers to travel.

Noi Bai International Airport also recommends that passengers arrive at the airport two hours before the departure of domestic flights and three hours before the departure of international flights to complete all the necessary procedures.

All passengers are requested to have all necessary personal documents prepared and ready, read their flight instructions thoroughly, finalize their check-in through the online platforms to save time at the counters, and follow the instructions of the ground staff carefully.