Ministry of Construction Reports on Long Thanh Airport Exploitation Plan

Following the Prime Minister’s directive in Document No. 8796/VPCP-CN dated September 17, 2025, the Ministry of Construction has submitted a report on the operational plan for Tan Son Nhat International Airport (TSNIA) and Long Thanh International Airport (LTIA) during Phase 1.

The ministry clarifies that the feasibility study report for the Long Thanh International Airport Investment Project (Phase 1), approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1777/QĐ-TTg on November 11, 2020, outlines the operation of both airports as a dual international airport model. The state will actively coordinate and allocate international and domestic flight ratios for each airport during specific periods.

Long Thanh Airport to Handle 80% of International Flights from 2026

According to this plan, LTIA will manage 80% of international flights and 10% of domestic flights, while TSNIA will handle 20% of international flights and 90% of domestic flights.

Specifically, LTIA’s international flight operations will cover all international routes of 1,000 km or more, with other routes determined by airlines. Domestic flight operations will be chosen by Vietnamese airlines.

LTIA is expected to handle 10-12% of the traffic on the Hanoi/Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City trunk route for Vietnamese airlines.

For TSNIA, international flight operations will include all routes under 1,000 km, focusing on markets between Ho Chi Minh City and Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, accounting for 15-17% of total international traffic to the Ho Chi Minh City area. Domestic flight operations will be chosen by Vietnamese airlines.

With this allocation, LTIA will manage 80% of international flights and 10% of domestic flights, while TSNIA will handle 20% of international flights and 90% of domestic flights. The state will actively coordinate and allocate international and domestic flight ratios for each airport during specific periods, with criteria reviewed after the first five years of operation.

Thorough Preparation for Operations is Crucial

To meet the project’s goals and ensure high-quality operations, the Prime Minister tasked the Ministry of Construction (formerly the Ministry of Transport) with establishing a task force for LTIA’s operational readiness.

Over time, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has proactively selected Incheon Airport Consortium (IAC) as the international consultant to develop a management and operational plan, ensuring the project’s objectives and investment efficiency. IAC has created the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and a comprehensive plan for LTIA’s launch, including detailed studies on flight allocation between TSNIA and LTIA.

IAC studied two scenarios and recommended ACV to report to the Steering Committee, proposing the transfer of all regular international flights from TSNIA to LTIA. This ensures efficient management, optimizes resources, and aligns with the long-term goal of positioning LTIA as a regional hub, competing with major global airports.

Based on ACV’s recommendation, the Ministry of Construction directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) and ACV to evaluate and reference the operational models of dual airport systems, considering government objectives, management strategies, infrastructure capacity, services, commerce, and transition timelines.

To date, CAAV and ACV have agreed on a report to the Ministry of Construction, outlining the flight allocation plan between TSNIA and LTIA in line with the approved project objectives. A detailed roadmap for the transition has also been established to ensure investment efficiency and project goals.

The Ministry of Construction notes that the Long Thanh International Airport Investment Project is a national key project with complex investment components. Investors are accelerating progress to ensure timely completion and operation.

Therefore, thorough preparation for LTIA’s operations is vital to ensure a safe transition from the investment phase to the operational phase, maximizing efficiency from the airport’s opening day. This includes effective coordination between TSNIA and LTIA, particularly the transition roadmap to achieve investment goals.

“The Ministry of Construction will continue to evaluate, coordinate, and allocate international and domestic flight ratios for each airport during specific periods, ensuring efficient operations of both LTIA and TSNIA,” the document states.