Published:  00:00 Tuesday - April 26, 2011

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has given in-principle approval to Long Thanh International Airport project in the southern province of Dong Nai.

As proposed by the Ministry of Transport, Long Thanh International Airport is expected to be built from 2015 and divided into three phases, with more than USD 6.7 billion to be invested in the first phase from 2015 to 2020. In the second phase from 2020 to 2030, there will be three runways and two terminals constructed, with a capacity of 50 million passengers a year and 1.5 million tonnes of cargo a year.

After 2030, Long Thanh International Airport will include four runways 4,000 meters in length and 60 meters in width to receive A380-800 planes and similar large aircraft, and four terminals with a total capacity of 100,000 million passengers a year and 5 million tonnes of cargo a year.

Long Thanh International Airport is expected to gain 90 percent of market share of international flights and 20 percent of local flights.

Aiming to reach the target of becoming an industrial country towards modernization by 2020, infrastructure development is among three essential breakthroughs, especially for northern and southern major economic regions because these are dynamic regions with high economic growth rate.

The investment, construction and operation of Long Thanh International Airport together with Tan Son Nhat, Can Tho and Bien Hoa International Airports will create a transport network for the southern region.

 After Long Thanh International Airport becomes operational, Tan Son Nhat Airport’s operation will be retained for Ho Chi Minh City’s development.

Source: Dtinews