The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) reports that the Lien Khuong airport runway and taxiway repair project is accelerating, with many main items already completed. Based on this progress, ACV proposed reopening the airport from 0h on 19/8, earlier than previously announced.

The passenger terminal at Lien Khuong airport. *Photo: ACV*

The airport serving Da Lat ceased operations from 4/3 to implement an airside infrastructure upgrade project. This project, costing over 1,000 billion VND, aims to enhance operational capacity, ensure flight safety, and meet the increasing transportation demands of the Central Highlands region.

Post-upgrade, the airport will stably operate narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and A321, and accommodate various wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350.

Under the plan until 2030, Lien Khuong airport will achieve 4E airport standards, capable of handling 5 million passengers and 20,000 tons of cargo annually. In the subsequent phase, the runway will be extended to 3,600 m, increasing passenger capacity to 7 million per year.

Workers renovating the airport runway area. *Photo: Xuan Huong*

The airport infrastructure will also be synchronized with the T2 passenger terminal, aircraft maintenance area, cargo terminal, and fuel station, aiming to become the aviation gateway of the Central Highlands.

Lien Khuong airport is located in Duc Trong commune, approximately 28 km from Da Lat city center. The facility, built in 1933, has undergone multiple upgrades, most recently in 1997 when the runway was extended to 2,354 m, meeting International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 3C standards.

The airport's reopening is expected to contribute to the recovery of tourism in Da Lat and Lam Dong, which for months had relied on nearby airports like Cam Ranh and Buon Ma Thuot for passenger transfers.

Tuan Anh