Earlier reopening proposed for airport in Vietnam's Lam Dong

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) on Monday submitted a proposal to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam seeking approval to reopen the airport from 12:00 am on August 19, around one week ahead of the original reopening date of August 25.

According to ACV, the revised timeline is based on the actual progress of the runway and taxiway rehabilitation project at Lien Khuong International Airport.

In its submission to the aviation authority, ACV requested permission to issue a Notice to Airmen reflecting the proposed reopening date and asked for support in completing the necessary procedures to allow the airport to resume operations as soon as possible.

ACV also notified Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines, and Pacific Airlines to coordinate preparations for the resumption of flights to and from Lien Khuong Airport.

The corporation requested that the airlines proactively develop operational plans, arrange aircraft, and schedule flights to ensure they are ready to serve passengers as soon as the airport is permitted to reopen on August 19.

Lien Khuong Airport serves as Lam Dong's main air gateway, connecting the province with major economic and tourism centers across Vietnam.

The airport has been temporarily closed from March 4 under a decision by Vietnam's Ministry of Construction to facilitate repairs and upgrades to its runway and taxiway system.

Implemented by ACV with a total investment of VND1.032 trillion (US$39.4 million), the project is meant to improve operational capacity and aviation safety while enabling the facility to handle five million passengers annually by 2030.

The scope of work includes repairs to the entire runway, taxiways, runway end safety areas, and technical infrastructure and equipment supporting flight operations.

The centerpiece of the project is the comprehensive rehabilitation of Runway 09-27, which measures 3,250 meters long and 45 meters wide.

During the airport's closure, most travelers have relied on nearby airports and road transportation.