Long Thanh Airport expected to handle 322 domestic and 44 international flights per week

On October 28, Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the investor responsible for Component Project 3 of the Long Thanh International Airport Project, said Long Thanh Airport is expected to handle up to 366 flights per week during its initial operating phase, comprising 322 domestic flights and 44 international flights.

During its initial operating phase, Long Thanh Airport is expected to handle a maximum of 366 flights per week. Photo: Pham Tung.

According to ACV, domestic airlines will gradually begin operations at the new airport during its initial phase. Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier, is expected to operate the Long Thanh–Hanoi route and several international routes. Meanwhile, Vietjet Air is expected to operate domestic flights connecting Long Thanh with major economic and tourism hubs across the country.

To support operations at Long Thanh Airport, regulatory authorities, airport operators and airlines are working together to develop arrangements for flight allocation and airport operations based on slot coordination parameters (designated takeoff and landing time windows) and operating plans for Tan Son Nhat Airport and Long Thanh Airport. These arrangements must also comply with applicable regulations and international aviation agreements and reflect actual operating conditions.

Notably, ACV said that many international airlines have also expressed interest in and support for operating at Long Thanh Airport, demonstrating the airport’s appeal and development potential.

Under the current plan, Phase 1 of Long Thanh Airport is scheduled to begin partial commercial operations on December 24, 2026. ACV reported that, as of October 9, 2026, construction work on facilities under Component Project 3, covering essential airport infrastructure, was approximately 86% complete in terms of contract value.

Of the project’s 16 main construction packages, four have been completed, while contractors are concentrating their efforts on the remaining 12 to meet the scheduled start of commercial operations at the airport. According to an assessment by the relevant specialized regulatory authority, most of the packages currently underway are likely to be completed in December 2026. For several large-scale and technically complex components, including the airport’s internal road network and technical infrastructure, passenger terminal, Cargo Terminal 1 and parking building, the investor, contractors and other relevant parties are continuing to mobilize as many resources as possible, step up construction and accelerate finishing work to ensure the facilities meet operational requirements in line with the planned schedule.

Alongside construction progress, preparations for airport operations are being carried out in a coordinated manner by regulatory authorities and relevant organizations to ensure that the airport satisfies all statutory conditions for commencing operations.

These preparations include inspections and acceptance procedures, completion of environmental documentation, approval of the aviation security program, issuance of permits for personnel and vehicles operating in the airfield area, completion of procedures for obtaining the airport operating certificate, and other specialized procedures required for flight operations. Completing all legal, technical and operational requirements is essential to ensuring that Long Thanh Airport operates safely, smoothly and efficiently from the outset of its commercial operations.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho