Concerns over Noi Bai Airport capacity raised

Hanoi Party Secretary Hoang Trung Hai has proposed to expand the runways at Noi Bai Aiport to avoid the capacity problems experienced at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Hanoi Party Secretary Hoang Trung Hai has proposed to expand the runways at Noi Bai Aiport to avoid the capacity problems experienced at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport.

   

Hanoi Party Secretary Hoang Trung Hai 

During the meeting with the authorities of Me Linh District on May 12 about social and economic problems in the area, Hai said they should take measures quickly to prevent overloading problem at Noi Bai Airport.

He suggested building two more terminals and expanding the runways so that they could serve 50-75 million passengers a year.

"The director of Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade Le Hong Thang has mentioned about wholesale markets and shopping centres, but what worries me more is the logistic centres as they would directly affect the airport's operations," he said.

With rapid growth, Noi Bai Airport will be overloaded if the authorities ignore the problem.

"We think that Noi Bai Airport is not as crowded as Tan Son Nhat Airport. But if we don't take measures now, Noi Bai will turn into another Tan Son Nhat as the growth rate is 30-40%," he said.

According to Hai, investing in Noi Bai Airport, urban areas in the north and the city's centre is a great opportunity to boost Me Linh District's development. Local authorities must communicate frequently with firms to ease difficulties.

The demand for investment for the city's development is high but the local budget is limited. The metro project alone requires billions of USD but the city needs it to deal with congestion.