Lien Khuong Airport expected to close for 6 months

The information was stated in the conclusion of the leaders of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee at a recent meeting regarding the project to repair the runway and taxiway of Lien Khuong International Airport. The specific time to close the airport has not yet been determined.

The project, invested by Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV), will repair and upgrade the runway to 3,250 m long, 45 m wide, and a turn-around area. Taxiways E1, E2, runway-related systems, and brake strips at both ends of the runway will also be upgraded; drainage systems, signal lights, and aviation signs will be added, etc.

A corner of Lien Khuong airport. Photo: Khanh Huong

Lien Khuong Airport is located in Lien Nghia town, Duc Trong district, about 28 km from the center of Da Lat city. The project was built by the French in 1933 and upgraded by the US in 1956. In 1997, the runway was extended from 1,480 m to 2,354 m, meeting the standards of a level 3C airport according to the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

During the period 2003-2007, the airport was renovated, expanded, and upgraded to level 4D, operating aircraft such as Airbus A320, A321. Currently, the airport serves about 2.5 million passengers each year, including many tourist groups from Korea, Thailand...

Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee requested the investor to choose a reasonable time to close the airport, avoiding the peak tourist season to reduce the impact on people, businesses and the local economy . In addition, investment preparation work needs to be carried out urgently, including equipment, human resources, materials... to be ready for construction as soon as the airport closes.

The province assigned relevant departments and agencies to coordinate with the investor to review and evaluate investment preparation work and construction solutions to ensure progress and shorten the closure time of Lien Khuong airport to 6 months, instead of 8 months as previously planned. A coordination team was established to promptly handle arising issues, ensuring the project is on schedule.

According to the plan, by 2030, Lien Khuong Airport will reach level 4E, able to operate wide-body aircraft such as Boeing 787, Airbus A350, serving 5 million passengers and 20,000 tons of cargo per year. After 2030, the runway will be extended to 3,600 m, increasing the capacity to 7 million passengers/year.

The technical infrastructure will be synchronized with terminal T2, aircraft maintenance area, cargo terminal, fuel station, wastewater treatment... Total land use area by 2050 is about 340 hectares.

This planning aims to turn Lien Khuong into an important aviation gateway of the Central Highlands, connecting Da Lat with major economic and tourist centers at home and abroad.

Recently, Mr. Nguyen Manh Tuan, Director of Vinh International Airport (Nghe An) said that the airport is expected to temporarily stop operating from July 1, 2025 to serve large-scale infrastructure upgrades. This is the expected timeline and still needs an official written decision from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/san-bay-lien-khuong-du-kien-dong-cua-6-thang-post288109.html