Tan Son Nhat Airport's Terminal 1 to be Rebuilt for Enhanced Capacity

Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport is slated for a comprehensive redevelopment of its domestic Terminal 1 (T1). The plan aims to enhance the airport's overall operational capacity and improve connectivity by integrating underground tunnels that will link it to the TCP parking lot and the new Terminal 3 (T3). This strategic direction was put forth by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) in anticipation of Long Thanh International Airport's projected opening by the end of this year. The advent of Long Thanh Airport necessitates a redistribution of operational markets between the two facilities and an upgrade of Tan Son Nhat's infrastructure. According to ACV, this is currently a preliminary study. The specific scale and investment methods will be determined after the adjustment of the Tan Son Nhat Airport Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision towards 2050, is approved by the competent authorities. Tan Son Nhat currently operates three terminals. Domestic Terminal 1 and International Terminal 2 are situated adjacent to each other, sharing a common access point on Truong Son Street. Terminal 3, located about one kilometer away from the older terminals, commenced operations over a year ago and serves domestic flights. Terminal 1 primarily handles flights for Vietjet Air. Other airlines, including Vietnam Airlines, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, Pacific Airlines, Vasco, and Bamboo Airways, have shifted their operations to Terminal 3. Following numerous upgrades and expansions, Terminal 1 spans nearly 41,000 square meters, with a designed capacity of approximately 15 million passengers annually, averaging around 41,000 passengers per day. However, prior to the operationalization of Terminal 3, Terminal 1 frequently exceeded its capacity. During peak periods like holidays and Tet, the terminal once served nearly 100,000 passengers daily, leading to congestion in check-in, security screening, and passenger pick-up/drop-off areas. ACV notes that after a prolonged period of operation, many components of Terminal 1 have deteriorated, and its technology and spatial organization are no longer suitable. Consequently, the terminal is slated for reconstruction with a larger scale and modern infrastructure to meet long-term operational demands, as Tan Son Nhat will continue to be the primary hub for domestic routes. In conjunction with the terminal's reconstruction, ACV is studying an underground tunnel system. This system would include a route connecting the passenger concourse to the TCP parking lot and another leading to Terminal 3. The project is expected to create a seamless connection between terminals, parking areas, reduce traffic conflicts, and offer greater convenience for passengers. Currently, passengers traveling from the TCP parking lot to Terminal 1 must cross the road, encountering traffic flow from vehicles entering and exiting the airport. There is also no direct connection between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, requiring passengers to navigate external airport roads. Parallel to the Terminal 1 upgrade plan, ACV is developing an operational strategy for simultaneous use of Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports based on the principle of "market segmentation." Under this plan, Tan Son Nhat will continue to manage the domestic flight network and short-to-medium haul international routes. Long Thanh Airport will gradually evolve into a new international aviation gateway, prioritizing markets with medium and long-term growth potential. ACV has stated that it has received operational registration for Long Thanh from several major domestic airlines and is actively engaging with numerous international carriers to prepare for the airport's launch later this year.