Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has mandated that Long Thanh airport begin commercial operations by late 2026, with the entire project to be completed no later than QIII/2026. He issued this directive during an inspection tour on the afternoon of 29/3, aimed at accelerating the construction of the airport and its connecting transportation projects.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspects the passenger terminal area on the afternoon of 29/3. *Photo: Phuoc Tuan*

During his visit, the Prime Minister emphasized the airport's status as a national key project of special significance. He acknowledged the significant effort made in its development, from the groundbreaking of some items in August 2023 to the anticipated technical flight by late 2025, especially given the numerous challenges faced.

To ensure timely completion, the Prime Minister called for the establishment of a task force to address payment issues and secure material and fuel supplies for construction. He also instructed the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to consolidate its organizational structure for smooth project management.

A Vietnam Airlines aircraft lands at Long Thanh on the morning of 19/12/2025. *Photo: Phuoc Tuan*

Construction progress for the airport's components shows mixed results. According to the Ministry of Construction, component projects one, two, and four are on schedule. Component project three has completed three of 15 tender packages, with the remaining packages under construction, achieving over 74% of the total volume. However, packages 4.8 (technical infrastructure, internal port transportation) and 5.10 (passenger terminal) face potential delays.

In terms of connecting infrastructure, Dong Nai province expects to complete the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau expressway and the section of Ring Road 3 Ho Chi Minh City passing through the locality by April. The province is also accelerating work on routes 25B and 25C.

Looking ahead, ministries and sectors must comprehensively assess operational efficiency, develop non-aviation services, explore the "airport city" model, and foster aviation economy. These measures aim to optimize resource utilization for the airport.

Long Thanh airport spans over 5,300 hectares, with a total project investment of approximately 16 billion USD. Phase one, valued at about 5 billion USD, has a designed capacity of 100 million passengers per year. It is expected to become a major aviation hub in the region.

Phuoc Tuan