Noi Bai Airport planning vision to 2050

VTV.vn - The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has officially submitted to the Ministry of Construction for appraisal the planning task of expanding Noi Bai International Airport with a research scope of up to 1,500 hectares.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has just taken an important step by submitting to the Ministry of Construction a proposal for approval of the task of planning Noi Bai International Airport for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision extending to 2050. This is an urgent move to solve the problem of overload that this airport is facing.

Noi Bai International Airport.

Overload pressure and urgent need for expansion

Currently, Noi Bai Airport, located in Soc Son District, Hanoi , is operating with two runways and two passenger terminals T1 (domestic) and T2 (international). The total designed capacity of the airport is only about 25 million passengers per year.

However, the actual exploitation in recent years has far exceeded this figure. In 2023 alone, Noi Bai had to struggle to serve more than 30 million passengers, exceeding the design capacity by 20%. The strong growth after the COVID-19 pandemic has put the airport infrastructure in an alarming state of overload, putting great pressure on service quality and exploitation capacity. Planning for expansion is no longer an option, but has become a mandatory requirement to ensure sustainable development.

1,500-hectare planning: Vision for the future

According to the proposal, the scope of research for planning will be about 1,500 hectares, including the existing airport area and surrounding areas. The core objective is to maximize the efficiency of existing infrastructure, while scientifically planning space to build additional key works such as runways, passenger terminals, cargo terminals, aircraft parking lots and auxiliary technical infrastructure.

The planning work, expected to last from 2025 to 2026, will include the following main tasks:

• Survey and forecast: Comprehensively assess the current situation, collect data and accurately forecast air transport demand in the coming periods.
  
• Research options: Propose optimal airport and civil aviation planning options, ensuring compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
  
• Synchronous connection: Ensure airport planning connects harmoniously and effectively with other types of transport (road, urban railway), forming a complete traffic hub.
  
• Security and sustainability: Linking development planning with national defense and security requirements, environmental protection and sustainable development goals.
  

The planning task dossier has been directed by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to be prepared by the consulting unit in accordance with regulations. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam recommends that the Ministry of Construction promptly appraise and approve it to serve as a basis for implementing the next steps.

In parallel with the expansion plan of Noi Bai, a second airport project for the Capital Region, Gia Binh International Airport (Bac Ninh), is also being promoted. This is considered a strategic solution to share traffic and reduce the load for Noi Bai in the long term.

According to the plan, Gia Binh airport will be a 4E-class airport, serving both civil and military purposes, with an expected capacity of 30-50 million passengers/year. When both Noi Bai expansion and Gia Binh construction projects are completed, the Northern aviation network will be raised to a new level, capable of meeting the socio-economic development needs of the Capital Region and the whole country.

Source: https://vtv.vn/quy-hoach-san-bay-noi-bai-tam-nhin-den-nam-2050-10025101514502792.htm