On July 16, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) submitted a report to the Ministry of Construction proposing a streamlined adjustment to the national airport system master plan.

A key highlight is the proposal to upgrade capacity, expand land area, and officially include Gia Binh International Airport in the list of primary airports.

Focus on capacity expansion and airport network optimization

The adjustment centers on Gia Binh International Airport, featuring major proposals related to passenger capacity, land area, investment costs, and its classification as a potential airport.

According to CAAV, the airspace of Gia Binh International Airport lies near the approach control zone of Noi Bai International Airport, with a distance of just 43 kilometers.

Due to shared airspace limitations, boosting Gia Binh’s capacity will require a proportional reduction in Noi Bai’s capacity.

Specifically, the proposal sets Gia Binh’s capacity at 30 million passengers per year by 2030 and 50 million by 2050. Correspondingly, Noi Bai’s capacity would be adjusted to 35 million passengers by 2030 and 60 million by 2050.

Land use and investment estimates revised

The plan also calls for increasing Gia Binh Airport’s land area to approximately 1,960 hectares. This change will necessitate an update to the total land allocation for the national airport network to maintain consistency across the system.

In terms of cost, the current estimated investment for the entire system through 2030 is about VND 443 trillion (approximately USD 18.9 billion). Expanding Gia Binh International Airport will require corresponding adjustments to the investment projections for each stage, ensuring alignment with the new planning framework.

Airport list updated to reflect development goals

Gia Binh International Airport was officially added to the national airport list by the Ministry of Construction under Decision No. 347/QD-BXD dated April 3, 2025.

Therefore, CAAV has recommended a review and update of the appendices in Prime Minister’s Decision No. 648/QD-TTg dated June 7, 2023, to incorporate the latest developments.

Previously, CAAV had proposed that the Ministry of Construction carry out a streamlined adjustment procedure to the master plan, aiming to include Gia Binh International Airport in line with the country's socioeconomic development goals, national defense needs, and strategic vision through 2050.

PV