Vietnam carriers position for Long Thanh hub with first test flights

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 landed at Long Thanh at 8:10 am on Friday carrying Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh and senior officials from Hanoi.

This first passenger flight to the airport was followed by evaluation flights operated by VietJet Air and Bamboo Airways.

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam said key infrastructure including the first runway, taxiways, aircraft aprons, and internal access roads has been completed and is ready for coordinated operations, though the passenger terminal remains under construction.

Vietnam Airlines chief executive Le Hong Ha said Long Thanh would help relieve pressure on Tan Son Nhat airport and support a reorganization of flight networks in southern Vietnam as part of the country’s broader aviation modernization drive.

Budget carrier Vietjet on the same day topped out construction of a US$100 million aircraft maintenance hangar complex at Long Thanh, the airline said.

The project is part of Vietjet’s strategy to lower operating costs by expanding domestic maintenance capacity.

Built to international standards, the facility will be able to service up to eight aircraft at the same time, including wide-body jets, VietJet said.

The airline said the hangar is expected to reduce reliance on overseas maintenance and improve fleet utilization.

Bamboo Airways also marked its first flight to Long Thanh with an Airbus A321.

Chief executive Truong Phuong Thanh said the carrier is studying route development and plans to expand its fleet to about 30 aircraft in the coming years.

Long Thanh International Airport, located in Dong Nai Province east of Ho Chi Minh City, is one of Vietnam’s largest infrastructure projects.

Total investment is estimated at $16 billion, with a planned capacity of 100 million passengers a year once fully completed.

Its first phase, costing about $5 billion, is scheduled to begin commercial operations in early 2026.

Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation said on Friday that air traffic control systems have completed testing and are ready for operation.

The systems include radar, navigation, and surveillance equipment and will operate in coordination with Ho Chi Minh City’s control center to ensure uninterrupted flight management.