Vinh Airport is forced to shut down for nearly 16 hours due to a 40-square-metre crack in the asphalt concrete layer of the runway in July 2023.
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) met on February 27 with the Nghe An Province People's Committee to discuss implementing three renovation and expansion projects at Vinh International Airport by 2025.
ACV plans to carry out three major projects, including terminal renovation, apron expansion, and runway improvements, with a total investment of nearly VND 1 trillion (USD40 million). Specifically, the apron expansion and renovation project will ensure the capacity for nine aircraft parking positions for Code C aircraft, with a total investment of VND 236 billion.
The existing Terminal 1 will be upgraded and expanded with an investment of VND 68 billion, increasing its capacity to accommodate 3–3.5 million passengers annually by 2030. Construction is scheduled to commence before April 30 and be completed by December.
The runway repair project involves upgrading the existing 2,400-metre-long, 45-metre-wide runway and two taxiways, with a total investment of over VND 623 billion. Vinh Airport will temporarily close for six months to carry out these improvements.
During this period, passengers travelling by air in the north-central region can use Tho Xuan Airport in Thanh Hoa Province or Dong Hoi Airport in Quang Binh Province as alternatives.
At the meeting, all parties agreed to allocate 3.3 hectares of land within the current apron area for expansion and renovation. They also discussed the roadmap for future investment projects, including constructing a second runway, expanding the aircraft apron, and developing a new Terminal 2.
Regarding the runway renovation project, Le Hong Vinh, Chairman of the Nghe An People's Committee, urged ACV to expedite progress to minimise airport closure time. He also agreed with ACV's proposal to extend the existing runway by 600 metres to accommodate larger aircraft.
ACV leaders committed to implementing all three projects simultaneously and ensuring completion before December 30, 2025.
Vinh Airport, which became operational in late 2003, has a single 2,400-metre-long, 45-metre-wide runway with a design capacity of 2.75 million passengers annually. At present, the airport handles 21–26 flights per day. In July 2023, it was forced to shut down for nearly 16 hours due to a 40-square-metre crack in the asphalt concrete layer of the runway.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Vinh International Airport has experienced rapid growth, with passenger numbers far exceeding projections. Therefore, expansion and renovation are essential.
