HCMC – The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) will open a newly expanded aircraft apron at Dong Hoi Airport at 6 a.m. on September 5, raising the number of parking bays to eight and enabling the facility to handle Airbus A321s and similar aircraft.
The expansion is part of a broader development effort at the airport, with full project completion slated for late 2026, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
The CAAV has directed airport authorities to ensure operations meet standards for aviation safety, security, fire prevention, and environmental protection. They are also required to coordinate with the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation and relevant stakeholders for seamless integration into the national aviation system.
The expanded apron is an early deliverable under the VND1.75-trillion project to build the airport’s Terminal 2. Construction began on April 19 and is expected to conclude by the fourth quarter of 2026.
Once operational, Terminal 2 will have a capacity of three million passengers annually, with plans to expand to five million after 2030. The existing airport is already operating at over 50% above its designed capacity and is forecast to serve one million passengers by 2025.
During a site visit on July 27, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged stakeholders to maintain a round-the-clock construction schedule to meet the April 30, 2026, deadline. He also called for design improvements to Terminal 2 and proposed extending the runway and upgrading supporting infrastructure to align with regional economic development goals.
In a separate development, the Ministry of Construction has endorsed a plan to engage international consultants for the master planning of Con Dao Airport. The plan includes extending the runway into the sea and upgrading the airport to accommodate larger aircraft.
The master plan, covering 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050, is being prepared with sponsorship from Sun Group. Authorities are seeking a qualified international firm to ensure the plan’s feasibility and compliance with technical standards for island-based airports.
Currently, Con Dao Airport serves only small aircraft like ATR-72 due to infrastructure limitations, including a short runway and a lack of night flight capability. From May to June 2025, the airport handled nearly 100,000 passengers, with year-on-year growth of 9.8% in departures and 4% in arrivals.
Under the national plan, Con Dao Airport is expected to handle two million passengers annually by 2030 and three million by 2050.
