Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air ready to resume operations at Dien Bien airport

On the morning of November 30, Vietnam Airlines coordinated with Dien Bien Airport to conduct simulated flight VN1803 from Dien Bien to Hanoi to test procedures, ready for operating the new airport with modern Airbus A321 aircraft.

Dien Bien Airport is preparing to operate from December 2.

Accordingly, from December 2, Vietnam Airlines will operate regular flights from Hanoi to Dien Bien with a frequency of 7 flights/week on all days of the week.

It is known that after reopening, Dien Bien airport will welcome Vietnam Airlines planes, in addition to Vietjet Air planes.

The flight departs from Hanoi at 13:05 and arrives in Dien Bien at 14:05. The return flight departs from Dien Bien at 14:45 and lands in Hanoi at 15:35.

Vietnam Airlines will operate the Dien Bien route using Airbus A321 aircraft. This is the aircraft model used by the airline to operate on Asian and domestic routes. Vietnam Airlines' A321 fleet has 3 configurations: 178 seats, 184 seats and 203 seats.

Authorities are checking security at Dien Bien airport, ready to resume operations from December 2.

Similarly, Vietjet Air also started operating the Ho Chi Minh City - Dien Bien route from December 2 with 3 flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays every week.

The flight departs from Ho Chi Minh City at 7:10 a.m. and arrives in Dien Bien at 9:10 a.m. The return flight departs from Dien Bien at 9:45 a.m. and lands in Ho Chi Minh City at 12:00 p.m. the same day.

Passengers prepare their journey for travel at Dien Bien airport.

Previously, on March 27, 2021, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 470/QD-TTg approving the investment policy to expand Dien Bien Airport with a runway of 2,400m long and 45m wide, meeting technical standards for modern aircraft such as A320, A321.

Civil aviation scale, renovating and expanding the operating capacity of the existing passenger terminal from 300,000 passengers/year to 500,000 passengers/year; renovating and constructing new auxiliary works and civil aviation areas to ensure synchronous operation of A320, A321 aircraft and equivalent.

The Dien Bien airport expansion investment project with a total investment of more than 1,400 billion VND was started by Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV), the Ministry of Transport and the People's Committee of Dien Bien province on January 22, 2022.

Dien Bien Airport has an aircraft parking lot with 4 parking positions, of which 03 parking positions are for A320/A321 aircraft or equivalent and one parking position is for ATR72 aircraft or equivalent or smaller.

The aviation auxiliary lighting system supports aircraft landing and taking off, moving on the ground at night, during bad weather, and during limited visibility. The newly built security fence system with 6 security guard booths, 4 fence gates, a synchronously installed fence security camera system, and a lighting system along the airport fence ensures security patrols.

Dien Bien Airport Passenger Terminal is designed with 2 floors with modern and harmonious architectural lines. In which, the first floor includes the lobby roof area, the departure passenger area and the arrival passenger area; the second floor is the waiting area, business class lounge, commercial service area and auxiliary areas for exploitation.

PHAM DUY

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