In 2019, Vietnam’s aviation industry will continue its upward trajectory as experienced in recent years.
Statistics from the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) showed that in 2018, Vietnamese airports served 104 million passengers, an increase of 10.4% compared to 2017, reports Dan Tri. This year, industry forecasts predicted that local airports are set to receive 112 million passengers, 8.2% more than 2018.
While this is no doubt good news for Vietnam’s tourism industry, the additional amount of travelers will put serious strains on local aerodromes. Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport has already been operating beyond the ideal capacity of 25 million for years while Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport is fast reaching its limit.
Nonetheless, ACV currently has ambitious plans to build new facilities and upgrade existing ones in hopes of cushioning the impending bottleneck caused by the upsurge in air travelers. For example, Tan Son Nhat’s golf course, which is taking up precious space for expansion, is likely to be closed in the future to make way for more airport facilities such as a new runway and more hangars.
Just a few days ago, Quang Ninh’s Van Don International Airport officially became operational, serving tourists from Asia visiting Ha Long Bay. The airport costs VND7.7 trillion (US$330 million) and could serve 2.5 million passengers yearly.
Progress on Dong Nai’s Long Thanh Airport is also moving along, with the first phase of the feasibility study completed, as ACV announced recently. If things go according to plan, construction will begin in 2020 with an estimated finishing date of 2025 for Long Thanh’s first runway and terminal. Once finished, the first phase of the plan will allow the airport to shoulder 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo from Tan Son Nhat.
[Photo via Creative Commons]
