The expanded Terminal T2 at Noi Bai International Airport will begin operations on December 19, bringing the international terminal closer to full automation as Hanoi moves to meet rising passenger demand.

The upgrade is expected to enhance service quality, increase capacity and strengthen Noi Bai’s role as a key international gateway for both the capital and Vietnam.

The expansion follows Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s directive to ease pressure on existing infrastructure by increasing the terminal’s annual capacity from 10 million to 15 million passengers.

The Terminal T2 has been operating beyond its design limit, handling nearly 13 million passengers in the first 11 months of 2025 despite a capacity of 10 million per year.

According to Nguyen Huu Loi, Deputy Director of the T2 Terminal Expansion Project Management Board, the project is running two months ahead of schedule.

Launched in May 2024, the project has a total investment of nearly US$200 million, including a US$184 million main construction package fully funded by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV).

Most construction and installation work has been completed, with final cleaning underway ahead of the official opening.

Regarding terminal equipment, Loi said imported check-in and security screening systems will be installed under the supervision of foreign suppliers, who will also provide staff training and maintenance certification.

After being expanded, the terminal’s total floor area rises from 139,216 to 200,164 square meters. Check-in counters increase from 96 to 144, including 24 self-service baggage drop counters.

The project adds 24 kiosk check-in machines, expands security screening zones from two to three, increases departure gates from 17 to 30 and installs 15 new aerobridges to improve access for wide-body aircraft. The number of baggage carousels rises from six to eight, saving time for arriving travellers.

New self-service kiosks and baggage drop stations reduce queues and allow passengers to check in, choose seats, print boarding passes and check luggage themselves.

A next-generation 920CT 3D screening system also speeds up security checks without requiring passengers to remove electronic devices or liquids.

Advanced body scanners meeting international safety standards have been installed, using non-ionizing millimeter-wave technology that is safe for pregnant women and people with pacemakers, while conducting quick checks and protecting privacy through avatar-style images.

Automated immigration gates with biometric verification streamline entry and exit procedures, while green design features and landscaped areas enhance the passenger experience.

Noi Bai International Airport is one of the largest in Vietnam. In the first 11 months of this year, the airport handled nearly 13 million passengers, second nationwide, and processed around 700,000 tons of cargo, the highest.

The airport is designed to handle 60 million passengers per year by 2030 and 100 million by 2050.

Terminal T2 for international flights was put into operation in January 2015. The total investment in the terminal was VND18 trillion ($707 million) through ODA loans. In 2019, Terminal T2 welcomed 11.4 million passengers, exceeding its designed capacity of 10 million.