Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) is accelerating preparations for the Long Thanh International Airport to commence operations. All major works for the first phase are scheduled for completion by the end of September 2026, with commercial operations of the new airport planned to begin on December 1.
ACV presented its project readiness report to the Airport Commissioning Steering Committee on July 10. According to Nguyen Duc Hung, the company's acting General Director, contractors have been instructed to expedite construction completion, equipment installation, and infrastructure preparation.
The first phase of the project includes a passenger terminal, two runways, a cargo terminal, internal roads, and engineering systems. The first runway, along with its taxiways and apron, was completed by the end of 2025 and already meets the requirements for servicing the largest wide-body aircraft. The second runway is expected to be fully ready by September 30, 2026.
The passenger terminal, designed to serve 25 million passengers annually, will be one of the main facilities of the first phase. Its construction will be completed in November, followed by final testing.
Cargo Terminal No. 1, with a capacity of 550,000 tons of cargo per year, the internal road system, parking areas, technical facilities, and infrastructure for aviation fuel storage and supply are also planned for completion by the end of October.
Before opening, the airport will undergo extensive verification under the ORAT (Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer) program. ACV, in collaboration with international consultant IAC, has already prepared 11 operational procedures and 55 testing scenarios to verify the operation of all services, equipment, and personnel.
Trial operations will take place over three months. In September, specialists will inspect the airside area and the western wing of the terminal. In October, comprehensive tests involving aircraft will be conducted, and in November, a full simulation of airport operations will be performed before launch.
Concurrently, ACV is preparing a team for the new facility. The company is transferring experienced staff from other airports in its network, as well as recruiting and training new specialists. All employees must obtain the necessary certifications before commencing work.
One of the main tasks before opening remains the development of transport links. Currently, the journey from central Ho Chi Minh City to the airport takes approximately 1.5 hours. To improve airport access, ACV deems it necessary to accelerate the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City — Long Thanh expressway from eight to ten lanes, complete the Bien Hoa — Vung Tau expressway, and other projects, including Ben Luc — Long Thanh and Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road No. 3.
In addition to road routes, ACV proposes accelerating the construction of the Thu Thiem — Long Thanh light rail line and integrating the airport into the future North-South high-speed railway network.
To attract airlines and expedite the transfer of flights from the congested Tan Son Nhat Airport, ACV is preparing the Long Thanh Launch program. Under this initiative, carriers can receive discounts of 20–50% on airport fees in 2026–2027.
Upon the launch of its first phase, Long Thanh Airport will be able to accommodate up to 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo annually. In the future, after all construction phases are completed, the airport will be designed to serve up to 100 million passengers per year.