Long Thanh Airport project enters “sprint phase”

The remaining months of 2026 have been identified by investors and relevant agencies as the “sprint phase” to complete construction, conduct trial operations, ahead of the commercial launch of Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport.

Long Thanh Airport project now enters an accelerated construction phase. Photo: Workers construct the Long Thanh Airport Passenger Terminal.

Under Government directives, Phase 1 of Long Thanh Airport must begin commercial operations by the end of 2026, leaving only about six months to achieve this target.

More than 9,000 workers needed

According to the Long Thanh Airport Project Management Board, overall project progress has reached nearly 76% of the total value of signed contracts. For major construction packages alone, completed work has reached nearly 65% of contract value.

Vu Pham Nguyen An, Director of the Long Thanh Airport Project Management Board, said the achievements reflect the sustained efforts of thousands of workers over the past period. “More importantly than the numbers, the momentum is clearly moving upward. In the latest reporting period alone, construction value increased by nearly 3.8%, while disbursement value rose more than 1.4% compared with the previous week,” An said.

An added that following the Prime Minister’s directives in May 2026 to remove bottlenecks, payment flows have been unblocked and disbursement activities have resumed. “This demonstrates that major obstacles related to mechanisms and payments have largely been resolved. It also confirms that the most difficult, complex, and large-scale work is now behind us,” he noted.

During this critical acceleration phase, the resolution of previous obstacles is considered as a decisive advantage. Special task forces for payment and construction materials affairs have already been established and operational. The Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Finance, Dong Nai City and Ho Chi Minh City have prioritized material supply, workforce support, and rapid problem-solving.

According to the Long Thanh Airport project management board, although remaining work volume is not large, this phase requires maximum precision, coordination, accountability, and determination. One key priority is mobilizing more than 9,000 workers, especially for two major packages: package 4.8 (construction, equipment installation, detailed design, internal transport infrastructure, and technical systems); and package 5.10 (passenger terminal construction and equipment installation). Construction teams are expected to operate continuously under a “three shifts, four crews” model.

Nguyen Do Quy, General Director of Hanoi Construction Corporation - JSC, one of the contractors, said that meeting the target requires faster construction progress and closer coordination among contractors. “Construction, acceptance, and installation must be implemented simultaneously and continuously to avoid overlaps and prevent delays,” he said.

Commercial operations scheduled for late 2026

Nguyen Duc Hung, Acting General Director of Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), described the final six months of 2026 as a special period for the project.

“ 180 days is not a long time, but it is a golden period to complete remaining work while ensuring the highest standards of quality, system integration, trial operations, and final acceptance,” Hung said. Therefore, ACV has instructed the Project Management Board and contractors to maximize resources, resolve labor shortages, organize scientific construction schedules, and increase shifts where necessary while strictly following committed timelines.

According to the Long Thanh Airport Project Management Board, current workforce at the construction site meets only about 73% of actual demand.

Hung also said preparations for airport operations have been carried out in parallel with the accelerated construction activities. Organizational structures, personnel planning, resource allocation, and operational plans for Long Thanh Airport Phase 1 have already been completed. Therefore, relevant units must ensure the goal of trial operations in 3 rounds in September, October, and November of 2026. “Ultimately, we must ensure commercial operation milestones are achieved in two phases: Phase 1 from December 1, 2026, to March 27, 2027; and Phase 2 from the 2027 summer flight schedule through the end of 2030, in line with the transfer of operations between Long Thanh Airport and Tan Son Nhat Airport,” Hung emphasized.

By Pham Tung - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha