30 airports being planned in Vietnam by 2030

The Government Office has just issued Notice No.208/TB-VPCP dated June 6 on the conclusion of the meeting on the master plan for the development of the national airport and airport system for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

The master plan by 2030 outlines 30 airports across the country, including 14 international airports (Van Don, Cat Bi, Noi Bai, Tho Xuan, Vinh, Phu Bai, Danang, Chu Lai, Cam Ranh, Lien Khuong, Long Thanh, Tan Son Nhat, Can Tho, and Phu Quoc), and 14 domestic airports (Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Sa Pa, Na San, Dong Hoi, Quang Tri, Phu Cat, Tuy Hoa, Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot, Phan Thiet, Rach Gia, Ca Mau, and Con Dao).

The government agreed to consider a proposal from the Ministry of Public Security to add Gia Binh Airport to the potential list. It will be approved for additional planning when it fully meets the criteria and authorised for immediate implementation.

The remaining two airports, Thanh Son and Bien Hoa, are being considered for the possibility of operating civil aviation, converting the military sites into dual-usage facilities.

By 2050, Vietnam will have 33 airports. Of these, the 14 international airports will no longer feature Cat Bi, which will be replaced by Haiphong, located in Tien Lang district. Among the 19 domestic airports, there will be three new additions, Cat Bi, Cao Bang, and a second in Hanoi.

The government has decided that the second airport in Hanoi will a domestic passenger terminal, instead of operating internationally as proposed by Hanoi People's Committee.

The Prime Minister's decision clearly looks to prioritise new construction or expansion of important international airports such as Long Thanh, Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, Danang, Cam Ranh, and Phu Quoc. The government will gradually upgrade and effectively operate the existing airports while building new ones, striving for over 95 per cent of the population to be able to access a flight within 100km.

By 2030, the total passenger volume at all airports will reach about 275 million, accounting for 1.5-2 per cent of the total transport market share and 3-4 per cent of the total volume of interprovincial passenger transportation. The total volume of goods moving through the sites is set at about 4.1 million tonnes, accounting for 0.05-0.1 per cent of the total goods movements.

In addition to the airports, the plan also focusses on on-site logistics centres where the demand is larger than 250,000 tonnes a year.

The required investment capital in the airport system by 2030 sits at about VND420 trillion ($18 billion), which will be mobilised from the state budget, private investment, and the public-private partnership model.

The airport system has been in the final planning stage with the Ministry of Transport over the past two years and has been approved by the government. It follows four other specialised plans for roads, maritime, railways, and inland waterways.

At least 10 new airports are waiting for the possibility to be added into the nation’s master plan, but they will need to meet strict requirements on operating needs, technical requirements, and funding

Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), has proposed delaying the planned completion time of Long Thanh International Airport until 2026 instead of 2025 as initially planned.

New investment schemes have been proposed regarding the upgrade and expansion of Con Dao airport in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, including a public-private partnership (PPP) venture.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked Haiphong People’s Committee and Airports Corporation of Vietnam to start the construction of the T2 terminal at Cat Bi International Airport in the fourth quarter of this year.