Starting January 23, passengers struggling to find taxis at Tan Son Nhat Airport will have the option of using free shuttle buses to travel to an external taxi staging area, making transportation more convenient during the busy Tet period.

Shuttle service to ease airport congestion

On January 21, the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Center, under the Department of Transport, announced a plan to deploy shuttle buses at Tan Son Nhat Airport during the peak Tet travel season.

This initiative aims to alleviate passenger congestion caused by long waits and overcrowding in the airport’s terminals.

The plan includes two 30-seat buses stationed at a staging area near the international terminal. When there is a surge of passengers at the domestic or international terminals and taxis are unavailable, the buses will transport passengers to a nearby parking area on Hong Ha Street.

From there, passengers can more easily catch taxis or ride-hailing vehicles, avoiding prolonged waits inside the airport.

The shuttle buses will operate as a free service from January 23 to 27 and February 1 to 5.

Coordinated effort for efficient service

The Public Transport Management Center will establish a “Rapid Response Shuttle Team” comprising representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, the Southern Airports Authority, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, and bus operators such as Phuong Trang Futabuslines.

This coordinated effort ensures timely deployment of buses to manage passenger overflow efficiently.

Tan Son Nhat Airport is experiencing a surge in passenger traffic, with over 800 flights per day during the peak Tet season and a daily high of 970 flights.

The airport expects approximately 26,000 flights and four million passengers during the Tet period, including 1.5 million international passengers and 2.5 million domestic travelers.

On January 21 alone, the airport handled 901 flights and over 123,000 passengers. As more people travel home for Tet, these numbers continue to rise.

Tuan Kiet