Vietnam to have 10 international airports

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved plans for the upgrading and expansion of scale of some airports around the country.

In the Central region

Under the plan, together with existing international airports such as Danang and Phu Bai, Central provinces and cities of Vietnam will have additional international airports at Cam Ranh and Chu Lai. Danang Airport is operating with international and domestic flights. Phu Bai Airport is now negotiating with Singapore to welcome international flights, in addition to serving domestic flights. Cam Ranh Airport is investing in building a new terminal, control tower, and night light system to become an international airport in 2009. Chu Lai Airport, in spite of the small number of tourists, was also approved to be an international airport.

Also under the plan, the Central region will become an entrepot and trade central between the Mekong River region and Asia-Pacific. Together with upgrading Chu Lai, Phu Bai, and Danang International Airports, an express corridor route by sea to the North – South will be built.

At present, the Middle Airports Corporation (MAC) is negotiating cooperative plans with Singapore to invest and expand Phu Bai International Airport. As planned; the airport, after being upgraded, will greet more frequent international flights to Thua Thien – Hue.

In the South

The region now has Tan Son Nhat International Airport where it welcomes the biggest number of tourists at 10 million a year. Relevant agencies will discuss a plan to expand the airpark, build a goods station, and kick off construction of a control tower.

Can Tho International Airport became operational in early 2009. A plan to construct the new Phu Quoc International Airport by 2030 was submitted to the government for approval. Accordingly, the airport will be capable of accomadating 20 aircraft at rush hour and its terminal is expected to welcome 7 million passengers a year.

Long Thanh International Airport, invested with USD 5 billion, is expected to be one of the largest international airports in the region. The airport, built on a site of 5,000 hectares, is capable of greeting 100 million passengers a year and transporting 5 million tons of goods a year.

In the North

Noi Bai International Airport greeted 7 million passengers in 2008. The government approved the plan for the airport through 2025. Accordingly, the airport can receive 44 aircraft and its terminals will be able to serve 30 million passengers a year. North Thang Long, Nhat Tan Bridge, and an underground railway from Hanoi are planned to connect with the airport.

In the long-term, the airport will be expanded to the South. A new runway to receive A380 and B777 aircraft and an airpark to receive 88 aircraft will be built. After completion of T2 terminal, T3 and T4 terminals will be in service to welcome nearly 50 million passengers a year.

In the near future, the country will have 10 international airports. This means that an additional 6 international airports will be added to receive direct flights from other countries, including Chu Lai, Cam Ranh, Phu Bai, Can Tho, Phu Quoc and Long Thanh. Long Thanh International Airport plays a role as an entrepot to gather foreign tourists in the region.

VietNamNet, SGGP, CPV

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