The Lunar New Year, the moment of reunion and gathering, is when everyone wants to return to their loved ones, to their families after a year of work and livelihood. For service industries such as airports, the Lunar New Year period also means peak season, with reinforced staffing. Many airport employees work shifts during Tet and celebrate Tet at the airport has become a habit... How do they feel about working during the Tet holidays? How do they arrange Tet greetings for their parents, families, and relatives?
Mr. Le Long has been dedicated to his work in the Baggage Cart Team at Noi Bai Airport Operations Center for 12 years. Among those, he has spent 9 years celebrating Tet at the airport. "Before and after Tet, the airport is crowded, but on the 30th of Tet, it's quiet. However, the emotions on the last working day of the year are very special. Witnessing the passengers meeting their loved ones at the end of the year, their emotional reunions make us happy as if we have just met our own relatives," Long emotionally shared. Right after his night shift on the 30th of Tet, he mentioned that he arranged for transportation to visit his parents and relatives in Moc Chau, Son La on the first day of the new year.
Ms. Mai Thi Thu Hien, from Ha Nam province, a domestic security officer at Noi Bai Airport Security Center, with 20 years of service at Noi Bai International Airport, shared: "The atmosphere at the airport on the last day of the year is often strange, quiet but still warm, everyone looks at each other like family, with a sense of closeness. During the Tet shifts, we also receive a lot of attention, often with leaders visiting to offer Tet greetings. We are scheduled for duty shifts, it's just a routine that we follow, spending Tet at the airport has become a habit now," Ms. Hien happily shared.
Ms. Vu Thi Tuyet and Ms. Le Thi Thu Ha - from the International Security Screening Team at Noi Bai Airport Security Center with over 16 years of service at the airport, mentioned that "airport security personnel work in shifts and alternate between regular shifts and night shifts. Those who live nearby take advantage of days off to visit their families, while those who live far away usually compensate for Tet holidays with their parents and relatives," Ms. Tuyet smiled happily.
People like Mr. Long, Ms. Hien, Ms. Tuyet... and all the direct laborers at Noi Bai International Airport hope for a cozy and united Tet holiday, but they all understand that due to the nature of the airport operating 24/7, most employees work directly in shifts during Tet holidays is a normal practice. Not to mention that each time security level 1 measures are implemented, many departments have to increase their staff by 20%. While Tet is a time for rest and togetherness for most people, for airport staff, Tet must ensure absolute safety for hundreds of flights arriving daily.
From the car parking lot, within the terminal areas, and outside the runways, every cog in the wheel serving flights at the international gateway of Hanoi, Noi Bai Airport, is always in a state of readiness to ensure absolute safety for flights through the airport. According to the flight schedule, it is estimated that on the last day of the year, there will be approximately ... flights and ... passengers arriving and departing through Noi Bai International Airport.
To motivate the labor force, Noi Bai International Airport has organized several delegations to visit and give Tet gifts to departments working far away such as control towers, with the farthest being at Na San Airport. They organize Tet greetings for night shift departments on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, visit the families of union members and workers in difficult circumstances, and organize small-scale Tet welcoming activities tailored to the specific characteristics of each unit.
Just a few hours away from the moment of transition to the new year, at Noi Bai International Airport, all departments are still diligently working to ensure absolute safety for flights, carrying peace, dreams, aspirations to depart and arrive through the second home - Noi Bai International Airport.