Prime Minister: Tan Son Nhat Airport cannot keep up with economic growth

Dong Nai Prime Minister said Tan Son Nhat airport is overloaded, unable to keep up with travel and freight demand, reducing local and national competitiveness.

The information was given by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the groundbreaking ceremony of Long Thanh Airport Passenger Terminal and Tan Son Nhat Airport Terminal T3 on the afternoon of August 31 in Dong Nai.

According to the head of the Government, many airports are currently overloaded both in the sky and on the ground, especially Tan Son Nhat Airport. Despite investment and upgrading, this airport has not kept up with economic and social development and the demand for travel and cargo transportation.

Tan Son Nhat Airport overloaded during Tet, January 2023. Photo: Quynh Tran — Tan Son Nhat Airport overloaded during Tet, January 2023. Photo: *Quynh Tran*

Tan Son Nhat Airport is currently one of the three largest international air gateways in the country, along with Noi Bai and Da Nang. Domestic passenger volume through the airport's T1 terminal currently reaches 26 million passengers a year, 1.7 times more overloaded than its designed capacity.

"It is expected that by 2024, the airport will be more than twice as overloaded. Many investment items have deteriorated, become outdated, and become congested after many years of use, affecting service quality and reducing the competitiveness of the locality and the country," said Mr. Chinh, adding that this afternoon, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang was affected by the overload at Tan Son Nhat airport and had to take a detour to Nha Trang.

The Prime Minister said that the groundbreaking of Long Thanh airport terminal and Tan Son Nhat T3 terminal plays a particularly important role in the national airport system. The two projects, once completed, will contribute to making Vietnam a major transportation hub in the region and the world, promoting development and enhancing national competitiveness.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony on the afternoon of August 31. Photo: Nhat Bac — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony on the afternoon of August 31. Photo: *Nhat Bac*

The Government leader requested Vietnam Airlines Corporation (the project investor) not to allow unreasonable capital increases in projects, or to divide bid packages; to ensure quality, construction techniques, and the lives of employees participating in the project. "Relevant units need to cooperate, coordinate harmoniously, and overcome difficulties and challenges to soon complete the set progress," said the Prime Minister.

Long Thanh Airport Passenger Terminal has a total capital of 35,000 billion VND, built by Vietur Joint Venture with 10 members. The project is designed with the image of lotus used throughout the items such as: roof, main view, interior of the check-in area... The architectural highlight is the skylight and the central skylight of the terminal - where the artificial waterfall and garden landscape are arranged.

Design of 35,000 billion VND terminal of Long Thanh airport — Long Thanh airport terminal design. Video: *Phuoc Tuan - Tran Nam*

Tan Son Nhat Airport Terminal 3, including the passenger terminal, multi-storey car park combined with non-aviation services and the front overpass system, has also started construction. The project has a total investment of VND10,990 billion, expected to be constructed in 20 months, and put into operation from the second quarter of 2025.

In addition, the 4,000 m long, 45 m wide runway, taxiways and some other auxiliary works at Long Thanh airport were also started on this occasion with a total cost of more than 7,600 billion VND.

Long Thanh Airport has a capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo per year. The total investment capital of the project is about 336,630 billion VND (about 16 billion USD). Of which, the first phase invests 114,450 billion VND (equivalent to 5.45 billion USD).

Phuoc Tuan

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