Vietnamese firm partners with 3 global aviation giants to develop $360mn aircraft MRO complex in northern Vietnam

The project will make Van Don the country’s first privately owned airport to host a major MRO facility developed through international cooperation.

The investment is expected to strengthen the airport’s position as a key aviation gateway and industrial hub, supporting Vietnam’s ambitions to expand its role in the regional aerospace industry.

Furthermore, the project is regarded as a key foundation for Vietnam's deeper integration into the global aviation value chain and for raising the competitive position of its aviation industry within the region.

Under the deal, the partners will jointly develop the MRO complex on a site spanning more than 20 hectares within the airport.

During the first phase, the facility will be developed to international standards and designed to accommodate four wide-body and two narrow-body aircraft simultaneously, making it one of the largest aircraft maintenance facilities in Vietnam.

In the second phase, the project is expected to expand its hangar footprint and overall capacity.

The complex is scheduled to commence operations in 2028 and is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs, including around 200 positions for foreign experts and skilled international workers.

Air carrier Sun PhuQuoc Airways, a subsidiary under Sun Group, launched the Ho Chi Minh City-Van Don service on Monday with four round-trip flights per week.

On its inaugural day, the flights achieved over 90 percent seat occupancy, highlighting robust demand for travel between southern Vietnam and the northeastern gateway region.

The new route not only strengthens links between two of the country’s key economic and tourism destinations, but also improves access for travelers from southern Vietnam to Quang Ninh, one of the fastest-growing tourism markets in the northern region.

Vietnam currently has 22 operational airports, with 20 of them managed by state-owned Airports Corporation of Vietnam.

The remaining two, including Van Don and Phu Quoc, are operated by airport enterprises under Sun Group, local media reported.