Lien Khuong Airport reopens after 5 months, first flights to Da Lat nearly full
Lien Khuong International Airport, the main gateway to Vietnam's Central Highlands city of Da Lat, has reopened after more than five months of closure for runway upgrades, with the first flights arriving at load factors of at least 95 percent.
Vietnam Airlines flight VN1380 lands on the newly upgraded runway at Lien Khuong Airport after months of closure for renovations. Photo: Thien Ha / Tuoi Tre
Vietnam Airlines flight VN1380 from Ho Chi Minh City landed at the airport at 6:45 am, marking the resumption of commercial flights to Da Lat.
The first arriving flight was welcomed with a water-cannon salute, while provincial officials presented flowers to passengers, including foreign tourists.
Local authorities said the airport was scheduled to handle 28 flights and about 1,000 passengers on its first day of operations.
In the initial phase, Lien Khuong International Airport is expected to handle 36-40 flights a day and serve about 6,800 passengers.
Passenger traffic is forecast to reach around 816,000 in the final four months of 2026.
Domestic air services linking Da Lat with Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Vinh, Hai Phong and Can Tho have resumed.
Internationally, the Da Lat-Kuala Lumpur route is expected to operate four flights a week, while the Da Lat-Singapore service is scheduled to resume in December with three weekly flights.
Nguyen Van Hung, director of Lien Khuong Airport, said all flights arriving at the airport on its first day back in operation had achieved load factors of at least 95 percent.
Nguyen Cao Cuong, chairman of Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), said the reopening marked more than the completion of runway repairs, describing it as a milestone for the airport's next stage of development and for Lam Dong and the Central Highlands.
Nguyen Cao Cuong, chairman of Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), said the reopening of Lien Khuong Airport would improve air connections for Lam Dong Province and the Central Highlands. Photo: Cong Trung / Tuoi Tre
The upgraded infrastructure would improve the airport's capacity to operate key domestic routes and support the expansion of international services, strengthening connections between Lam Dong and major Vietnamese cities and regional destinations.
Lam Dong provincial leaders welcome and greet passengers as they leave the plane at Lien Khuong Airport. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre
Passengers are welcomed with a violin performance as they step off the plane. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre
Runway upgrade at the Central Highlands' first international airport
Lien Khuong International Airport, the first international airport in Vietnam's Central Highlands, was closed on March 4 for repairs to its 3,250-meter runway and about 1.3 kilometers of taxiways.
The existing asphalt pavement was replaced with concrete.
The upgrades are expected to improve operational capacity and safety and allow the airport to accommodate Code E aircraft, which have wingspans of 52 meters to less than 65 meters and typically include wide-body aircraft.
Link nội dung: https://news.tuoitre.vn/lien-khuong-airport-reopens-after-5-months-first-flights-to-da-lat-nearly-full-103260819163102781.htm