The information was announced on March 27 by Nguyen Huu Que, vice chair of Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee. He said the existing runway does not meet requirements for large aircraft from north-east Asia, prompting plans for a second runway, with construction began in 2025.
Once completed, Phu Cat Airport will be able to receive international charter flights and gradually open new routes, contributing to increased tourist arrivals to Gia Lai in 2026.
The project has a total investment of more than VND 3 trillion (USD 115.38 million). The new runway will be 3,048 metres long and 45 metres wide, capable of handling aircraft such as the A320 and A321, as well as Boeing 787, 777 and Airbus A350 when required.
Under the 2021-2030 plan, Phu Cat Airport is expected to reach a capacity of five million passengers per year, alongside plans to build a Terminal 3 with capacity for 3.5 million passengers. By 2050, capacity is projected to increase to 7 million passengers and 27,000 tonnes of cargo.
Currently, Phu Cat Airport serves only domestic routes. Vo Huy Cuong, deputy chief executive of Bamboo Airways, has proposed that authorities facilitate international operations by adding immigration, customs and quarantine areas, along with dedicated flows for international passengers. Bamboo Airways could launch international flights to Phu Cat this year once the second runway is completed.
He also noted that the dual-airport system of Phu Cat and Pleiku could complement each other, with connections via national highway 19 helping to reduce travel time and expand access to both coastal and highland tourism.
Dao Xuan Hoach, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, said upgrading infrastructure at Phu Cat, along with improved regional connectivity, would enable charter flights as early as 2026, with regular routes expected from 2027. Policies such as reduced landing and take-off fees and improved flight operations are also encouraging airlines to expand their networks to the area.
