Route for transferring operations from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Long Thanh International Airport

According to ACV, of the total 3.16 million connecting passengers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in 2024, domestic airlines account for 95% of output, being the main force in domestic - international and international - domestic connections.

Therefore, the active participation of domestic airlines will determine the achievement of the designed output and the position of an international transit hub of Long Thanh International Airport. If there is hesitation, there is a risk of causing an 8-9 year delay in the growth of passenger output of this airport.

Regarding Vietnam Airlines ' proposal to have a suitable roadmap for transferring operations from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Long Thanh, ACV shares and agrees in principle. However, ACV suggests establishing a specific timeline and clear transition direction for international flight groups, especially Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, to ensure the achievement of the goals set out in the approved policy.

ACV proposes that in the first phase of operation (from the official start of commercial flights at Long Thanh airport until the end of the winter flight schedule in 2026), the operation of long-haul routes including long-haul international routes to Europe, the US, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia will be transferred to the new airport. These are routes using wide-body aircraft operated by domestic airlines, suitable for the infrastructure and scale of the airport.

The deployment of this group of routes will help create a stable base output for Long Thanh airport right from the beginning, while forming the international image of the port as a gateway for intercontinental flights. Along with that, temporarily keeping Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia routes at Tan Son Nhat International Airport will create conditions for domestic airlines to adjust their operating plans and ensure operational efficiency in the early stages.

For cargo transport, transfer all cargo flights by cargo aircraft to Long Thanh International Airport and cargo transported in the belly compartment of commercial aircraft according to flight routes operated at Long Thanh International Airport.

Transitional phase (from the 2027 Summer flight schedule), all international routes and flights will be transferred to Long Thanh International Airport, except for short international routes with a distance of less than 1,000km operated by domestic airlines.

Completion phase (after 2028) based on the actual exploitation situation and current status of connecting traffic (completed expressways and beltways), when Long Thanh International Airport reaches international exploitation output of over 80% of design capacity, gradually transfer all regular international routes to Long Thanh International Airport to concentrate the entire international flight network.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport will operate domestic flights and irregular international commercial flights, charter flights serving organizations and individuals.

ACV recommends that the authorities study and issue specific incentive mechanisms for airlines when they move to Long Thanh International Airport. Airlines need to proactively prepare their fleets in the medium and long term, including wet or dry leasing options, to meet the requirements of converting flight networks.

At the same time, ACV recommended that the Government, the Ministry of Construction and localities promote investment progress, complete early and synchronously transport projects connecting to Long Thanh International Airport such as expressways, urban railways, light rail, rapid buses, shuttle buses... with the aim of shortening travel time between Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh.

BICH QUYEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/lo-trinh-chuyen-giao-khai-thac-tu-cang-hkqt-tan-son-nhat-sang-cang-hkqt-long-thanh-post821639.html