HCMC – The Haiphong government has proposed the Ministry of Transport determine Tien Lang Airport as the second one in the Hanoi area in the national airport development plan in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.
The northern port city has also suggested the ministry raise the capacity of the Cat Bi International Airport to 13 million passengers per year by 2030 and 27.6 million by 2045 and develop small airports on the Cat Ba and Bach Long Vi Islands for rescue and tourism, the local media reported.
According to Haiphong’s leaders, the city’s general planning until 2035 with a vision to 2045, which is being considered by the Ministry of Transport, includes the Tien Lang Airport project and roads and urban railways connecting to the airport.
Haiphong made the proposal although it is not located in the Hanoi area as under the prime minister’s decision in 2016, the capital city area includes Hanoi and nine neighboring provinces–Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen and Bac Giang.
The Tien Lang Airport will be some 120 kilometers east of Hanoi’s downtown area. Haiphong is now connected with Hanoi through the Hanoi-Haiphong Expressway.
Under the draft national airport development plan in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, the second airport in the capital city area will have an annual capacity of 50 million passengers and will be developed after 2040. Additionally, the Tien Lang Airport was proposed to replace the Cat Bi International Airport when the latter exceeds its designed capacity.
Earlier, some experts had proposed the location for the second airport of the capital city area in Ung Hoa District and localities bordering Hanoi in the south, such as Hai Duong and Ha Nam.
Over the past few months, many localities, such as Cao Bang, Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, Binh Phuoc and Bac Giang, have proposed building new airports or developing their military airports into those used for both civil and military purposes.
