For airport staff, Tet is the time to strengthen their forces to ensure absolutely safe service for hundreds of incoming flights every day. On the afternoon of Tet 30, the number of visitors at Noi Bai decreased but the forces still maintained a 24/7 duty schedule.
The days leading up to Tet are a time of union and reunion, a time when everyone who goes far wants to return to family and relatives after a year of working and making a living. But at Noi Bai airport, it’s peak time around Tet, so staff have to be on extra duty. Many staff are on duty during Tet and celebrate Tet at the airport, this has become familiar.
Mr. Le Long, has worked for 12 years at the trolley team (Noi Bai Station Operations Center), 9 of which he spent celebrating Tet at the airport.
“Before and after Tet, there are many customers, but on Tet 30 it is empty. However, the feeling of going to work at the end of the year is very special. Seeing the year-end guests meet their relatives and they burst into tears, we were as happy as if we had just met relatives,” Mr. Long said.
This year, Mr. Long also participated in New Year’s Eve duty. He said that immediately after finishing his shift, on the first day of Tet, he will rent a car to visit his parents and relatives in Moc Chau, Son La.
Similarly, Ms. Mai Thi Thu Hien (from Ha Nam), a domestic screening security officer (Noi Bai Aviation Security Center) has also worked for 20 years and celebrated Tet at the airport for many years.
Having just completed her mission, Ms. Hien said: “The atmosphere at the airport at the end of the year is often very strange, deserted but still has a warm feeling, everyone looks at each other like family and friendship.
We were scheduled to be on duty on a rolling basis, so we just kept coming up for appointments. Tet at the airport has now become a habit. In particular, on Tet duty these days, we are also paid attention, often with delegations of leaders visiting to wish Tet.”
Ms. Vu Thi Tuyet and Le Thi Thu Ha (International Screening Security Team, Noi Bai Aviation Security Center) have also worked here for more than 16 years, so they are not unfamiliar with being on duty during Tet on the afternoon of the 30th.
“Aviation security staff work in shifts and alternate administrative and night shifts. Those who live nearby take advantage of the day off to visit family, while those who live far away probably go to Tet to “make up” for their parents and relatives later,” Ms. Tuyet said.
People like Mr. Long, Ms. Hien, Ms. Tuyet… and all the direct workers at Noi Bai International Airport all hope for a Tet reunion, but they all understand that, with the characteristics of a cargo port, does not operate 24/7, most employees are direct workers, it is natural for them to work in shifts and crews on holidays.
Not to mention, every time level 1 security enhancement measures are applied, many departments have to increase their force by 20%. For everyone, Tet is an opportunity to rest and reunite, but for airport staff, Tet must ensure absolutely safe service for hundreds of incoming flights every day.
From the car park, in the terminal areas, outside the flight area, all links serving flights at the gateway airport of Hanoi Capital are always ready to ensure safe flight service. Absolutely through the port.
According to the flight plan, it is expected that by the end of the year there will be about 446 flights with 71,182 passengers arriving through Noi Bai airport.