Long Thanh Airport to have four check-in counter islands during initial operations

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) said on October 21 that the western wing and central area of the passenger terminal at Long Thanh International Airport would be prioritized for completion to support initial operations. Four check-in counter islands will be available to meet operational requirements during the airport’s initial phase.

Long Thanh Airport’s passenger terminal will have four check-in counter islands available during the initial operating phase. Photo: Pham Tung

The western wing and central area of the passenger terminal are expected to handle both domestic and international flights, with approximately 20–30 flights per day from December 2026 to March 2027. Additional operational systems and areas will subsequently be brought into service in stages as the airport scales up its operations.

According to ACV, as of mid-October 2026, the cumulative construction value of Component Project 3, which covers essential airport facilities under Phase 1 of the Long Thanh Airport project, had reached nearly VND74 trillion, equivalent to more than 85% of the total contract value.

Of the 16 main construction packages under Component Project 3, four have been fully completed: Package 6.12, covering the connecting road system for Routes 1 and 2; Package 3.4, covering site grading and drainage; Package 5.6, covering piling works for the passenger terminal; and Package 2.4, covering the perimeter fence within the 1,810-hectare project site.

Several other major packages have also achieved completion rates exceeding 90%. Package 4.6, covering the runway, taxiways and aircraft aprons, is more than 99% complete. Package 4.9, covering the aircraft fuel supply system, has exceeded 98%; Package 4.7, covering the passenger terminal apron, has surpassed 96%; Package 4.12, covering the second runway and taxiways, is more than 92% complete; and Package 4.11, covering the wastewater treatment facility, has exceeded 91%.

Four key packages remain on the project’s critical path and require focused efforts to resolve outstanding issues, mobilize additional resources and accelerate construction to meet the target of bringing Long Thanh Airport into operation in December 2026. These are Package 5.10, the passenger terminal; Package 4.8, the internal airport road network and technical infrastructure; Package 7.8, Cargo Terminal 1; and Package 11.5, the parking garage.

Under the current plan, Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport is expected to begin partial operations on December 24, 2026. ACV said preparations for airport operations would follow a three-stage roadmap, with capacity gradually expanded over time. During the initial phase, from December 2026 to March 2027, passenger terminal operations will be concentrated in the western wing and central area. The flight volumes registered by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air are equivalent to 6–10% of the airport’s designed capacity, or approximately 20–30 flights per day. Total traffic is expected to reach a maximum of 366 flights per week, comprising 322 domestic flights and 44 international flights.

For cargo operations, part of Cargo Terminal 1 (CTB1) is expected to begin handling domestic cargo on December 24, 2026. From January 2027, the terminal is expected to begin serving international flights, except those on routes to Europe and the United States.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho