TCP Vietnam Investment JSC, which operates the parking lot at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Binh District, said the company installed the two elevators, each capable of carrying 24 people, on Monday.

The municipal Department of Transport had requested the TCP to build these elevators earlier this year after Tan Son Nhat, currently the largest airport in Vietnam, upgraded its transport infrastructure.

Last November, Tan Son Nhat only designated one car lane for drop-off purposes, while two others would be used for pick-ups, and the last by taxis.

The changes mean all ride-hailing services have to access the third, fourth or fifth floors of the TCP parking lot to pick up customers. Ride-hailing drivers also have to pay the airport VND25,000 ($1.08) each time to scoop up clients, instead of the previous VND10,000.

It also means passengers have to carry their luggage to those floors. As there are currently only two elevators, many have had to use the stairs.

The two extra elevators were initially set to be completed in February but the deadline was later shifted to April.

TCP said in mid-April it could only finish the work in May since the Covid-19 pandemic prevented the import of necessary equipment.

Though the elevators have been completed, they are largely idle as Vietnam remains stuck in a Covid-19 wave that broke out two months ago, with HCMC currently the second most infected locality, recording more than 1,900 cases.

The airport stopped receiving foreign arrivals on May 27, 2020.

From a point of serving 600-700 flights per day, Tan Son Nhat currently sees just over 60.