Vinh Airport is planned to be the 7th largest out of 14 international airports in Vietnam in terms of design capacity.

Thanh Duy• June 17, 2023 11:37

(Baonghean.vn) - Vinh Airport is planned to have a design capacity of 8 million passengers/year by 2030, 14 million passengers/year by 2050; the 7th largest out of 14 international airports in Vietnam.

The Prime Minister has justissued Decision No. 648/QD-TTg dated June 7, 2023 approving the Master Plan for the development of the international airport and seaport system for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

Vinh International Airport. Photo: Thanh Duy

The goal by 2030 is to develop a synchronous and modern airport system to meet transportation needs and deep international integration; protect the environment, save resources; ensure national defense and security; enhance the competitiveness of the economy, contributing to making our country basically a developing country with modern industry and high average income by 2030.

Vision by 2050: To form two international transit hubs at regional level in the Hanoi Capital region and Ho Chi Minh City region.

Invest in putting new airports into operation so that about 97% of the population can access airports within a range of 100km.

Expand and upgrade airports in regional economic centers to meet the needs of socio-economic development. Invest in infrastructure systems and equipment to ensure flight operations, synchronized and modern at international standards; establish centers for flight training, aircraft maintenance and repair, and modern equipment systems to ensure flight operations.

In the period of 2021 - 2030, the airport system is planned according to the hub-spoke model with 2 main hubs in the Hanoi Capital area and Ho Chi Minh City area, forming 30 airports including 14 international airports and 16 domestic airports; with a vision to 2050, forming 33 airports, including 14 international airports and 19 domestic airports; in which Vinh Airport is 1 of 14 international airports in the country.

The plan to adjust the planning of Vinh International Airport for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, has been selected. Photo: Thanh Duy

In the planning of the airport system for the period 2021 - 2030, Vinh International Airport has a scale and airport level of 4E with a total area of over 557 hectares; the expected design capacity is 8 million passengers/year, the 6th largest out of 14 international airports in Vietnam, after the following international airports: Noi Bai (60 million passengers/year), Tan Son Nhat (50 million passengers/year), Cam Ranh (25 million passengers/year), Da Nang (25 million passengers/year), Long Thanh (25 million passengers/year), Cat Bi (13 million passengers/year), Chu Lai (10 million passengers/year), Phu Quoc (10 million passengers/year). The estimated investment cost of Vinh International Airport according to the planning for this period is 14,942 billion VND.

By 2050, Vinh International Airport is expected to have a designed capacity of 14 million passengers per year, behind the following international airports: Noi Bai (100 million passengers per year), Long Thanh (100 million passengers per year), Tan Son Nhat (50 million passengers per year), Cam Ranh (36 million passengers per year), Da Nang (30 million passengers per year), Chu Lai (30 million passengers per year), Van Don (20 million passengers per year), Phu Quoc (18 million passengers per year). The estimated investment cost of Vinh International Airport according to the planning for this period is 8,905 billion VND.

Vinh International Airport is currently a 4E-class airport according to ICAO regulations, with 6 airlines operating 9 routes, with an average frequency of 26 - 28 flights/day (equivalent to 52 - 56 take-offs and landings/day). The number of passengers passing through the airport in 2022 will reach 2.6 million passengers, which is already overloaded compared to the current capacity.

Currently, the T1 passenger terminal is operating at maximum capacity, during peak times the flight frequency is overloaded (about 50 flights both arriving and departing); the international passenger terminal has not met the requirements because it is using the old, renovated terminal. In particular, the passenger reception hall and check-in area are overloaded during peak times.

The number of parking lots can only accommodate a maximum of 6 aircraft, while on holidays and Tet, 8 to 9 parking positions are needed. The existing runway, 2,400m long, was invested in and repaired since 2003, only accommodating reduced-load A320/A321 aircraft (code C aircraft) or equivalent, and cannot receive large-body aircraft code E such as A350, B777, B787... leading to the inability to open international routes with long flights requiring large-body aircraft.

The quality of the runway has degraded and needs regular maintenance and repair; there is no parallel taxiway system, affecting the take-off and landing times of flights; there is no cargo terminal or hangar repair area...

Therefore, upgrading and renovating Vinh International Airport is a requirement, especially the construction of a second runway with a length of 3,000m, ensuring the ability to receive large-body aircraft code E such as A350, B777, B787, as well as the construction of a new civil aviation area. This is one of two strategic infrastructure bottlenecks that Nghe An is urgently focusing on resolving to better serve the development of the province.

In February 2023, the Standing Committee of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee approved the plan to adjust the planning of Vinh International Airport; Project on socialization of investment and exploitation of Vinh International Airport, according to the investment, management and exploitation model on the basis of maintaining the current status of Vietnam Airports Corporation managing the existing airport. At the same time, calling for investment resources for the new civil aviation area including: Passenger terminal, cargo terminal, hangar... and airport area works (runway 2, taxiway, apron...) in the form of PPP (public-private partnership) to form more investors to manage and exploit the new civil aviation area. Currently, the province is waiting for the Central Government's policy and the Prime Minister's approval for implementation.

Previously, on September 22, 2022, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 1121/QD-TTg to establish a Working Group, which is tasked with researching the Project on socialization and investment in the form of public-private partnership to exploit Na San (Son La province), Vinh (Nghe An province), Chu Lai (Quang Nam province), Can Tho (Can Tho city) and a number of other airports when needed. Currently, the Government Party Committee is developing a Project on orientation to mobilize social resources to invest in airport infrastructure to report to the Politburo for approval of the policy.