$426mn new terminal at Ho Chi Minh City airport set for trial run on April 17

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) recently issued a directive urging all relevant units to fully prepare for Terminal 3’s test operations to ensure smooth passenger services during the upcoming April 30 and May 1 holidays, as well as the 2025 summer travel peak.

To ensure a seamless launch, a trial period has been scheduled from April 24 to 27, featuring pilot flights on the Tan Son Nhat–Van Don route operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet.

Additional test flights on the busy Ho Chi Minh City–Hanoi route will take place from April 28 to May 4.

By May 5, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet will shift all domestic operations to Terminal 3, while Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, Vasco, and Vietravel Airlines will continue operating at Terminal 1.

To minimize disruptions for passengers during the transition ahead of the new terminal’s April 30 inauguration, the CAAV has instructed the airport authority to work closely with relevant units to ensure coordinated operations, clear signage, and consistent passenger guidance.

During the terminal’s initial phase, ground services will be intensified to assist travelers – especially the elderly, women, children, and those with connecting flights.

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are also required to enhance communication efforts by providing timely notifications about relocated flights. Both carriers must station staff at Terminal 3 to assist passengers and establish support policies for those who may miss flights due to the transition.

Located separately from Terminals 1 and 2, Terminal 3 will primarily be accessed via the Tran Quoc Hoan–Cong Hoa Street corridor and an expanded section of Hoang Hoa Tham Street, instead of the frequently congested Truong Son Street, according to the city’s Transportation Works Construction Investment Project Management Authority.

Construction of Terminal 3 began in December 2022. The facility includes one basement and four above-ground floors, spanning a total area of 112,500 square meters, with an investment of nearly VND11 trillion (US$426 million).

The terminal is equipped with 26 boarding gates, 89 check-in counters, 20 self-service bag drop stations, and 42 self-check-in kiosks integrated with Vietnam’s national population database.

It also features 25 security screening checkpoints, a premium passenger lounge, a multi-story parking structure with commercial services, elevated roadways, and an aircraft apron.

The new facility has eight luggage conveyor lines, six departure baggage islands, and ten arrival baggage islands.

Once fully operational, Terminal 3 is expected to handle over 20 million passengers per year and up to 7,000 passengers per hour during peak times.