The first commercial flight to Lien Khuong Airport after its closure for repair and infrastructure upgrades, Vietnam Airlines flight VN1380 from TP HCM, landed on the runway in Duc Trong commune at 7:05 a.m. on 19/8. The aircraft was welcomed with a water cannon salute, and Lam Dong provincial leaders along with the tourism sector presented flowers and gifts to the crew and passengers.

The inaugural Vietnam Airlines flight landed at Lien Khuong Airport, on the morning of 19/8. *Viet Quoc*

Do Thi Phien, a tourist from TP HCM, expressed her delight at being on board the inaugural flight. "The resumption of flights makes my business trips and holidays to Da Lat more convenient," she said.

On the same day, Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) inaugurated the runway and taxiway repair project at Lien Khuong Airport. ACV served as the investor for the project, which had a total capital of over 1,000 billion VND.

The extensive project involved replacing the asphalt concrete structure of the entire 3,250 m long and 45 m wide runway with cement concrete. It also included repairing taxiways E5, E6, D2, D4, and E; expanding the runway end safety area; and improving the turning pads, blast pads, and drainage system. Furthermore, the beacon, approach, and precision approach path indicator lighting systems, along with the power supply for flight operations, were comprehensively upgraded.

Lam Dong provincial leaders welcomed the first passengers landing at Lien Khuong Airport. *Viet Quoc*

Following the repairs, Lien Khuong Airport maintains its Category 4D status, serving both civil and military use. The runway's load-bearing capacity was significantly increased, overcoming previous weight restrictions and accommodating aircraft types such as B757, B737, A300, A321, A320, and ATR72.

Nguyen Cao Cuong, Chairman of ACV's Board of Directors, highlighted the airport's reopening as crucial for restoring a vital transportation gateway for Lam Dong and the Central Highlands. He added that the upgraded infrastructure facilitates the expansion of flight networks, supporting local tourism and economic development.

Domestic routes connecting Da Lat with TP HCM, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Vinh, Hai Phong, and Can Tho have been restored. For international travel, the Da Lat - Kuala Lumpur route is expected to operate 4 flights each week. The Da Lat - Singapore route is planned to reopen in December with three flights each week. In the initial phase, the airport expects to operate 36 to 40 flights, serving about 6,800 passengers daily. For the last four months of the year, passenger volume is estimated to reach 816,000.

ACV aims to upgrade Lien Khuong Airport to Category 4E, with the capacity to serve 5 million passengers annually by 2030.

Viet Quoc