Central Vietnam's largest airport to get $380mn expansion

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and the municipal People’s Committee on Thursday announced the implementation of the T1 terminal renovation and expansion project and the first phase of an aircraft apron expansion project.

The T1 terminal project will also include upgrades to the transport system, a multi-storey parking facility, landscaping and modern technical infrastructure.

Construction is expected to begin in August next year.

The expanded terminal is scheduled for completion and operation in January 2029.

Meanwhile, the phase-one aircraft apron expansion project will add six aircraft parking positions at a cost of more than VND170 billion ($6.5 million).

The project is intended to increase the airport’s ability to handle aircraft during peak periods while creating additional room for long-term growth at the gateway to central Vietnam.

The apron expansion project will get off the ground in December, with the new facilities expected to enter service in July 2027.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Le Quang Nam, vice-chairman of the municipal administration, described the two projects as important steps toward improving the airport’s operational capacity and passenger services while meeting rising demand for air travel, tourism and trade.

Nam noted that Da Nang is pursuing its goal of becoming a major socio-economic hub of Vietnam and the region, serving as a key gateway for trade, tourism and technical infrastructure.

As such, aviation infrastructure plays a particularly pivotal role as the ‘first gateway’ to international integration, investment attraction, tourism development and the growth of the digital economy.

“With the rapid growth in tourism and trade, upgrading and expanding airport infrastructure to improve operational capacity and passenger services has become an urgent requirement,” Nam said.

ACV chairman Nguyen Cao Cuong said the two projects represent a key move in the corporation’s plan to upgrade Da Nang International Airport’s infrastructure to meet growing operational demand and improve passenger services.

The simultaneous enhancement of terminal and apron capacity, architectural design and digital passenger services will gradually create a new airport environment, providing modern and integrated aviation infrastructure centered on passenger needs.

“The projects will help improve overall operational capacity at the airport and create additional room to accommodate growth in air transport in the coming years,” Cuong said.