Long Thanh Airport is expected to welcome 100 million passengers/year, comparable to Dubai, Tokyo, London.
Long Thanh International Airport is expected to become a leading super airport, with the potential to welcome 100 million passengers per year, on par with the world's largest airports.
Long Thanh International Airport (Dong Nai) is the focus of attention of the global aviation industry. OAG, an organization specializing in monitoring aviation data, assessed that Long Thanh has great potential to join the group of "super ports" with a capacity of 100 million passengers per year, putting Vietnam on the map of the world's largest aviation hubs.
Long Thanh Airport: Target of 100 million passengers, on par with the superpowers
According to OAG, Long Thanh International Airport could reach the milestone of 100 million passengers/year within the next 10 years. This would put Long Thanh on par with the world's top five airports that have already surpassed this milestone, including Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth (USA), Dubai (UAE), Tokyo Haneda (Japan) and London Heathrow (UK).
The project is planned over 5,000 hectares, with a total investment of more than VND336,000 billion, divided into three phases. Phase 1, expected to be completed by the end of 2025, will have a capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year.
Phase 2 (by 2035) will add a runway and terminal, increasing capacity to 50 million passengers and 1.5 million tons of cargo per year. The final phase (2035-2040) will bring Long Thanh to 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo per year, becoming the largest airport in Vietnam and an aviation hub in Southeast Asia.
About 257 hectares are reserved for an aviation logistics zone, integrating cargo terminals, supporting regional economic and tourism development.
OAG said Asian countries are investing heavily in mega airports to attract capital, boost tourism and create jobs. The growth of the middle class, rapid urbanization and economic development are the main drivers. Long Thanh is expected to compete with leading international aviation hubs when completed.
Despite its ambitious goals, the Long Thanh International Airport project is facing some difficulties in terms of progress. According to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha’s conclusion at the end of June, many major packages of the project are behind schedule. He warned that the workload is still very large, while there is not much time left and the project has entered the rainy season.
The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Construction to coordinate with the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to review each bid package, handle problems and strengthen supervision to ensure progress.
The role of Long Thanh airport in the future
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phong, Head of the Long Thanh Airport Operation Preparation Board, said the project will play a key role in the Southeast Asian region. When completed, Long Thanh will not only be a symbol of Vietnamese aviation but also contribute to promoting the economy, tourism and employment, affirming its position on the global aviation map.
