One issue of public concern is the connection from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to Long Thanh airport. A modern, high-capacity airport, but if the connection malfunctions, the efficiency will be significantly reduced.
The 50km distance from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to Long Thanh is not the core issue.
In the world, many international airports are dozens of kilometers from the center, but the travel time is stable, predictable and has few risks.
Currently, if traveling from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to Long Thanh area by road, the time may exceed 2 hours when congestion occurs on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway.
Currently in Ho Chi Minh City, passengers in areas far from Tan Son Nhat airport are also used to the scene of "checking the time" to go to the airport very early because they are afraid of traffic jams.
If Long Thanh goes into operation and the connection problem is not fundamentally solved, the worry of flight delays will be even greater.
To connect with Long Thanh airport, a series of infrastructure projects are being implemented such as expanding the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway, Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway, Ring Road 3 HCMC, An Phu intersection...
However, roads, no matter how widely expanded, still depend on vehicle traffic, traffic participation awareness and unexpected situations.
A small accident can also paralyze the entire highway. At that time, passengers are forced to "go early to be sure", accepting wasting time, even accommodation costs.
The biggest risk is for the group of passengers connecting between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh.
Just one delay on the road, the entire international journey could be disrupted. A regional-level aviation hub cannot operate on an unstable connection platform.
Therefore, a sustainable solution cannot just be opening more lanes. The Thu Thiem - Long Thanh Metro line, about 42km long, needs to be considered an essential component of the airport ecosystem.
If operating at a high operating speed, organizing reasonable stopping and parking, the travel time of about 30 minutes from the center to the airport is feasible.
Urban railways have a great advantage, not depending on ground congestion, accurate time, and ease of forecasting are key factors for aviation.
An international-class airport must be accompanied by a worthy connection system. If passengers still have to worry about traffic jams and flight delays, the modern advantage of the terminal will be devalued.
Completing on schedule is important, but synchronous completion is even more important.
Don't let Long Thanh exploitation day become the day passengers start their journey with anxious moods.
