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Recently, information from the People's Committee of Nghe An province indicated that the provincial leaders had just worked with the leaders of the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) to accelerate the implementation of projects to renovate and expand Vinh Airport.
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has just announced a plan to invest nearly 1,000 billion VND to upgrade and expand Vinh Airport, one of the important airports in the North Central region. This project includes three main components, aiming to meet the increasing demand for air transport and improve the quality of service for passengers.
For runway repairs and upgrades, Vinh Airport (Nghe An province) is expected to close from June to the end of December 2025.
One of the most important items is the aircraft parking apron expansion and renovation project. With a total investment of 236 billion VND, this project will expand the apron area, ensuring there are enough 9 parking positions for Code C aircraft, the most common medium-sized passenger aircraft currently in use. Expanding the apron will not only increase the airport's service capacity but also reduce congestion, especially during peak hours.
The existing T1 passenger terminal at Vinh Airport, a crucial facility connecting the North Central region with the rest of the country and internationally, will undergo comprehensive renovation and expansion. With a total investment of 68 billion VND, this project aims not only to improve service capacity but also to create a modern, comfortable space to meet the growing needs of passengers. The goal is to increase the terminal's operating capacity to 3-3.5 million passengers per year by 2030, a figure reflecting the strong growth of the aviation industry in the region. The project is expected to commence before April 30th and be completed in December, promising a new look for Vinh Airport.
Vinh Airport will receive nearly 1,000 billion VND in investment for three projects.
Besides renovating the terminal, another important component of the project is the repair of the existing runway. The 2,400-meter-long, 45-meter-wide runway, along with the two taxiways, will be upgraded with a total investment of over 623 billion VND. This is an essential part of ensuring the safety and efficiency of flights. However, to carry out this work, Vinh Airport will have to temporarily close for 6 months. This may cause some inconvenience for passengers, but it is also a necessary investment for the sustainable development of the airport.
During the temporary closure of Vinh Airport, passengers needing air travel within the North Central region can choose alternative airports such as Tho Xuan Airport in Thanh Hoa or Dong Hoi Airport in Quang Binh. These airports will play a crucial role in maintaining air connectivity for the region, ensuring that passengers can still travel conveniently.
Passengers in the North Central region can choose flights from Tho Xuan (Thanh Hoa) or Dong Hoi (Quang Binh) airports.
During the meeting, the parties agreed on a solution to promptly allocate 3.3 hectares of land located on the existing apron area for the expansion and renovation of the aircraft parking area, and to develop an investment roadmap for projects according to the plan, such as: constructing a second runway, expanding the aircraft parking area at Terminal 2, and constructing Terminal 2 passenger terminal.
Regarding the runway renovation project, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, Le Hong Vinh, requested ACV to focus on accelerating progress to minimize airport closure time. The Chairman of Nghe An province agreed with ACV's proposal to invest in extending the existing runway by an additional 600 meters to accommodate larger aircraft. ACV leaders committed to implementing all three projects simultaneously, ensuring completion before December 30, 2025.
In the long term, Vietnam Airports Corporation will organize the demarcation and zoning of the planning area and announce the plan so that the public is informed.
Investing in upgrading Vinh Airport is a crucial step, contributing to the socio-economic development of Nghe An province and the North Central region. Vinh Airport plays a vital role as a transportation gateway, connecting Nghe An with provinces and cities nationwide and internationally. The upgrade will create favorable conditions for attracting investment, developing tourism and trade, and improving the lives of local people.
Opened in late 2003, Vinh Airport initially had only one runway, 2,400 meters long and 45 meters wide, with a designed capacity of 2.75 million passengers per year. Currently, the airport handles 21-26 flights daily. In July 2023, the airport had to close for nearly 16 hours due to cracks in the asphalt concrete layer of approximately 40 square meters of the runway.
According to the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority, Vinh International Airport has experienced rapid growth recently, with passenger numbers far exceeding forecasts, making renovation and expansion necessary.
