Long Thanh Airport expected to handle 90% of international passengers in HCM City area by 2027

On April 20, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) announced that it has developed and reported to competent authorities a plan for transfering operations between Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Long Thanh International Airport.

Long Thanh International Airport welcomes its first official commercial flight on December 19, 2025. Photo: Pham Tung

Accordingly, the plan for transferring operations between these two airports will be implemented in phases, gradually shifting most and then all international flights to Long Thanh International Airport in stages, in line with infrastructure capacity and the goal of developing an international air transit hub.

In the initial phase, from the commencement of commercial operations at Long Thanh Airport through the end of the Winter 2026 flight schedule (December 1, 2026 to March 27, 2027), all long-haul international flights (including cargo flights) will be relocated from the Tan Son Nhat Airport to the Long Thanh Airport. During this period, Long Thanh is expected to handle approximately 19% of the total international passenger volume in the Ho Chi Minh City area.

In the next phase, from the Summer 2027 flight schedule until the end of 2030 (from March 28, 2027 to the end of 2030), all remaining international flights (excluding short-haul routes under 1,000km operated by Vietnamese airlines) will be transferred to Long Thanh Airport. The goal is for Long Thanh Airport to handle over 90% of international passenger volume in the Ho Chi Minh City area as early as 2027.

After 2030, all scheduled international flights will be fully shifted to Long Thanh Airport, laying the foundation for the development of a major international transit aviation hub on par with regional standards in the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area. By then, Tan Son Nhat Airport will primarily serve domestic routes, along with irregular international services and charter flights for organizations and individuals.

As per the Government's request, the Long Thanh Airport Project must be completed in the third quarter of 2026 and become operational in the fourth quarter of the same year.

Currently, ACV is closely coordinating with consultants to finalize the testing and operational transfer plan, along with updating passenger volume forecasts based on current actual conditions.

Once the competent authorities officially approve the operational division plan between Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat airports, ACV will promptly coordinate with relevant stakeholders to implement the plan in a synchronized, unified, and efficient manner.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha