The newly constructed Departure Hall A, which was put into use on April 21, is the first phase of a project intended to upgrade and expand the entire domestic terminal.
Covering 2,140sq.m, the new section consists of check-in rows, luggage carousels, and offices. There are also four airport body scanners, six boarding gates, and six baggage-scanning systems.
Jetstar Pacific and VietJet Air began using the new section on the same day. Jetstar Pacific operates 12 check-in rows in the area while VietJet Air runs 24.
The section where these two carriers formerly operated check-in rows will be renovated and is expected to be put back into use within the next four months.
In the second phase of the expansion project, the waiting area at the domestic terminal will be enlarged by 2,000sq.m, while a 500sq.m technical section will also be built.
Once completed, the upgraded domestic terminal will cover a 39,450sq.m area and will be capable of serving 4,500 passengers per hour during busy times. The expanded terminal will be able to handle 12 million passengers a year.
Tan Son Nhat, Vietnam’s largest airport, welcomed its 20 millionth passenger in 2013—two years earlier than expected.
Forty-four airlines offer domestic and international services to and from the airport.
