Vietnam’s aviation sector has almost made a full recovery since Covid-19, carrying nearly 74 million passengers by air in 2023, up 34.5 per cent year-on-year, figures from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) reveal.

The figure is equal to 93.6 per cent of the total in pre-pandemic 2019, the CAAV reported at a meeting held recently to review the aviation sector’s operations in 2023 and discuss tasks for 2024.

Of the total, international passengers stood at 32 million, a 1.7-fold rise year-on-year and equal to 77 per cent of the figure in 2019. Foreign arrivals are expected to fully recover in 2024.

Some 1.1 million tons of cargo were transported by air during 2023, down 9.3 per cent year-on-year and equal to 87.3 per cent of 2019’s figure.

Vietnam has 22 airports, including nine international airports, with a total capacity of catering to nearly 100 million passengers a year.

Regarding tasks in 2024, the CAAV will strive to complete the selection of contractors for Sub-project No. 4 at Long Thanh International Airport in southern Dong Nai province and accelerate other projects such as the construction of the T3 Terminal at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport and the expansion of the T2 Terminal at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport.