Vietnamese carriers prepare for first flights at Long Thanh Airport

According to the CAAV, the preparations follow conclusions made by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a meeting on Sunday reviewing progress on phase 1 of the Long Thanh Airport project, with the goal of ensuring the first official flights are conducted safely and on schedule.

The Friday operation will mark the first official flights at Long Thanh Airport, involving all three airlines.

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is expected to operate one Code E aircraft and a Boeing 787 on the Noi Bai-Long Thanh-Noi Bai route between 6:15 am and 8:00 am.

The flight will carry high-ranking Vietnamese Party and state leaders and invited delegates and will not be a commercial service.

Meanwhile, Vietjet and Bamboo Airways are each expected to operate one Code C aircraft (A320/A321), flying the Tan Son Nhat-Long Thanh-Tan Son Nhat route between 8:00 am and 8:40 am. These flights will carry only cabin crews and technical staff.

Ground handling services for Vietnam Airlines’ aircraft will be provided by Vietnam Airport Ground Services Co., Ltd., while Saigon Ground Services will serve Vietjet and Bamboo Airways.

Aviation fuel for Vietnam Airlines will be supplied by SKYPEC.

Vietjet and Bamboo Airways were asked to ensure sufficient fuel for round-trip operations and coordinate with SKYPEC if refueling at Long Thanh is required.

Aircraft maintenance for Vietnam Airlines will be handled by Vietnam Airlines Engineering Co., Ltd., while Vietjet and Bamboo Airways will arrange maintenance independently or work with service providers if needed.

The CAAV also requested Vietjet and Bamboo Airways to closely coordinate with Long Thanh International Airport to prepare runway operations, aircraft positioning, flight crews and technical personnel, and to update all published airport technical data.

All three carriers must complete flight permit procedures and coordinate with the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security to meet aviation security requirements.

Airlines said the technical flight sequence and inaugural operation are not only symbolic of Long Thanh Airport’s entry into operation but also serve as a comprehensive test of the new airport’s operational capacity, including runways, taxiways, aprons, lighting systems, navigation aids, and air traffic management.

In recent days, runway lighting systems and signage on Runway No. 1 at Long Thanh have been tested as part of final preparations ahead of this Friday.

A Bamboo Airways representative said the airline has fully prepared its aircraft, flight crews and technical teams, and has finalized service coordination plans to ensure the inaugural flight at the new airport is conducted safely, punctually, and in compliance with aviation authority requirements.

Long Thanh International Airport is projected to require an investment of VND336.63 trillion (US$13 billion) and is being developed in three phases.

Phase 1 is scheduled for inauguration in December and commercial operations are set to begin in 2026.

Once phase 1 becomes operational, the airport, with one runway and one terminal, will be able to serve 25 million passengers and handle 1.2 million metric tons of cargo annually.

When all three phases are finished, likely after 2035, the airport will be the largest in Vietnam with an annual capacity of 100 million passengers and five million metric tons of cargo.