HCMC – The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has recommended the Ministry of Transport look into the possibility of using Thanh Son and Bien Hoa military airports for civil service.
The proposal was made to supplement the overall plan for the development of the national aviation and airport system in the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the local media reported.
In April the Government established a working group to consider using Bien Hoa Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai and Thanh Son Airport in the south-central coastal province of Ninh Thuan for both military and civilian purposes.
There are currently no civilian airports in Ninh Thuan or Dong Nai. The two airports, which were built before 1975, have only served military functions.
Vietnam has 14 international and 14 domestic airports, according to the Ministry of Transport. The ministry proposed the country have 14 international and 17 domestic airports by 2050.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam advocated expanding the airport capacity, given the possibility of growth in passenger demand.
Haiphong City’s Cat Bi Airport is proposed to enhance its capacity from eight million to 13 million passengers per year by 2030, while Quang Nam Province’s Chu Lai Airport will rise from five million to 10 million passengers per year.
Quang Ninh’s Van Don International Airport’s capacity is expected to increase from 12 million to 20 million passengers per year, and Chu Lai Airport’s capacity will further grow from 28 million to 30 million passengers per year by 2050.
The agency advised developing the third runway at Khanh Hoa Province’s Cam Ranh International Airport to bolster local socio-economic development. A new international airport in the northern city of Haiphong’s Tien Lang District is planned.
The administration left the door open to the possibility of building airports on islands, including Ly Son and Phu Quy, to maintain national security and boost local growth.
