Ca Mau Airport was due to resume operations on November 29, but the date has been postponed because of heavy rainfall in October and shortages of some construction materials for its upgrade and expansion project.
On November 6, Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) announced that the reopening of Ca Mau Airport had been rescheduled from November 29 to December 18.
According to ACV, persistent rainfall in October and supply shortages of certain construction materials had affected the project's progress. Although the project owner and contractors had increased manpower and equipment to accelerate construction, the facility was not yet ready to resume operations as planned.
The passenger terminal has been completed, while its electrical and mechanical systems and equipment are undergoing testing and calibration. Construction is still under way on the runway, taxiways, aircraft parking apron and supporting technical infrastructure.
ACV said it would focus on completing the remaining works, installing signal lighting and navigation equipment, and conducting inspections, trial operations and acceptance procedures before reopening the airport.
Once the airport resumes operations, Vietnam Airlines plans to operate daily flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Ca Mau using Airbus A321 aircraft. VASCO will continue to deploy ATR 72 aircraft, while Vietjet Air is expected to launch a Hanoi-Ca Mau route with three return flights a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Ca Mau Airport upgrade and expansion project received in-principle approval from the prime minister in October 2024, with a total investment of approximately VND 2.40 trillion (USD 93.7 million), funded by ACV.
The project includes a new runway measuring 2,400 metres long and 45 metres wide, as well as taxiways, an aircraft parking apron and supporting infrastructure. The existing passenger terminal is being renovated and expanded to handle up to 500,000 passengers a year.
Once completed, the airport will be able to accommodate Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft and equivalent models, replacing its previously limited operational capacity.
The project is expected to improve air connectivity, boost tourism and support economic development in Ca Mau and the wider Mekong Delta region.