According to a proposal submitted to the Ministry of Construction, authorities said revising the airport’s master plan had become urgent as passenger traffic had already exceeded earlier forecasts.
Passenger throughput reached nearly 9.8 million in 2019, surpassing the previous projection of 8 million passengers by 2030. Traffic recovered to around 6.9 million passengers in 2024, approaching the airport’s current designed capacity.
Under the proposal, Cam Ranh International Airport would be upgraded to ICAO category 4E and capable of handling wide-body aircraft including the Boeing 747, 777, 787 and Airbus A350 during the 2021-2030 phase.
Total capacity would be increased to 19-20 million passengers and 50,000 tonnes of cargo annually.
Authorities proposed retaining the existing 3,048-metre runway while replacing the old runway with a new 3,350-metre runway located 360 metres away.
The plan also includes construction of a new Terminal T1 with capacity for 10 million passengers a year, connected to the existing domestic terminal to raise combined capacity to 12 million passengers annually.
Terminal T2 would also be expanded to handle between 6 million and 8 million passengers per year, while a new cargo terminal with annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes would be built north of the aircraft parking area.
By 2050, the airport’s total capacity is projected to reach 36 million passengers and 100,000 tonnes of cargo annually.
The long-term plan includes further expansion of Terminal T1, construction of a new Terminal T3 with capacity for 14 million passengers annually and expansion of cargo facilities.
Total investment demand is estimated at more than VND39 trillion, including VND 24.3 trillion for the 2021-2030 phase and an additional VND 15 trillion for the period to 2050.