Long Thanh Airport Project must meet quality and safety requirements before operations begin: Deputy PM

At a meeting on October 4 with ministries, agencies, local authorities and relevant organizations on the progress of the Long Thanh International Airport Project and connecting transport routes, Politburo Member and Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc stressed that quality and safety are the top priorities for an aviation project. “Only when these requirements are fully met can flights begin. If quality and safety requirements are not met, the airport must not operate under any circumstances,” he said.

Earlier, a Government delegation led by Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc conducted an on-site inspection of the projects. Ho Van Ha, Member of the Dong Nai City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee, joined the delegation.

Politburo Member and Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc delivers concluding remarks at the meeting. Photo: Pham Tung

Partial operations proposed for December 24

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Construction Pham Minh Ha said the Long Thanh Airport project was being implemented concurrently through four component projects, together with a transport infrastructure system connecting the airport by road, rail and urban railway.

Leaders of Airports Corporation of Vietnam report on the progress of the Long Thanh Airport passenger terminal to Politburo Member and Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc and the delegation. Photo: Pham Tung

Component Project 1 comprises facilities for state management agencies, including customs, police and the airport authority. These facilities have been implemented in a coordinated manner, with the basic infrastructure needed for airport operations largely completed.

“Progress is very important, but it must not come at the expense of construction quality. Quality is the top priority,” Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc emphasized.

Component Project 2, with Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) as the investor, comprises the air traffic control tower and specialized aviation equipment, with its main works now completed. Meanwhile, Component Project 4 is being implemented in line with the overall project schedule.

Component Project 3, invested in by Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), covers the airport’s essential facilities, including the passenger terminal, runway, apron and other key technical infrastructure. Overall construction output has now reached more than 80% of the contract value. Project components are being completed, and trial operations are scheduled for October and November.

Politburo Member and Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc speaks at the meeting on the progress of the Long Thanh Airport Project and connecting transport routes. Photo: Pham Tung

According to Nguyen Duc Hung, the Acting General Director of ACV, Component Project 3 comprises 16 major construction packages. Twelve of the 16 packages are basically meeting the schedule requirements for the project to begin operations in December 2026. “Regarding the timing of commercial airport operations, ACV proposes putting part of the project into operation from December 24, 2026. ACV will officially report the proposal to the Government, while also informing airlines so that they can proactively develop their operating plans,” Hung said.

Clarifying the partial-operation proposal

According to Deputy Minister of Construction Pham Minh Ha, ACV must provide specific details of its proposal to put part of the project into operation from December 24 before reporting it to the competent authorities.

Member of the Dong Nai City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee Ho Van Ha speaks at the meeting. Photo: Pham Tung

ACV must clearly identify which part of the project is proposed to enter operation and when it will be completed. It must also clarify whether the construction and completion of the remaining sections could affect airport operations. “ACV must make a specific proposal. Under construction regulations, how will the facilities be put into operation? What is the operating scenario? What will the operating procedures be? This issue involves many ministries, agencies and organizations. For example, what will airport security look like if the airport is operating while thousands of workers continue entering and leaving the site to carry out construction?” Deputy Minister Pham Minh Ha asked.

Speaking at the meeting, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc emphasized that Long Thanh Airport is a national key project and a strategic transport infrastructure project of particular importance to the country’s socio-economic development.

In recent times, ministries, agencies, local authorities, investors and contractors have worked hard to overcome difficulties and accelerate the project. Many construction packages and components have been basically completed. However, some contractors and packages are still behind schedule.

Politburo Member and Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc inspects the Long Thanh Airport passenger terminal. Photo: Pham Tung

The Standing Deputy Prime Minister, therefore, called on relevant agencies to step up efforts and organize round-the-clock construction for critical-path items and components with large remaining workloads. He also called for close monitoring of progress on a daily and weekly basis, as well as of each task, component and construction package. “There must be no complacency, no delays, no waiting and no shifting of responsibility. Any issue within an agency’s authority must be handled immediately; issues beyond its authority must be promptly reported to the relevant agencies for resolution,” Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc said.

Regarding the proposal to put part of the project into operation from December 24, the Standing Deputy Prime Minister stressed that quality and safety are the most important requirements for an aviation project. “Only when these requirements are fully met can flights begin. If the required quality and safety standards have not been met, flights must not begin under any circumstances,” he emphasized.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho