The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has submitted a report to the Ministry of Construction on the progress of six ground service facilities under Component 4 of the Long Thanh International Airport project.
The report follows requests from investors in Component 4 to extend construction deadlines to the end of 2026 or even into 2027.
Hangar No 1 of Vietnam Airlines and hangars No 3 and 4 of Vietjet at Long Thanh Airport (Photo: Ngoc Tan).
Under the contracts, construction was scheduled to be completed by August 31. However, only two facilities have completed their basic construction and are now undergoing equipment installation: the No. 2 in-flight catering facility and the No. 2 maintenance centre for ground vehicles and equipment.
The remaining four projects have yet to complete basic construction. They include VAECO's (a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines) No. 1 aircraft maintenance hangar, Vietjet's No. 3 and No. 4 hangars, the No. 1 in-flight catering facility and the No. 1 ground services facility. These projects face the risk of contractual penalties from October 1.
Reports from the four investors, Vietjet, VAECO, Vietnam Airport Ground Services Company (VIAGS) and Vietnam Airport Catering Services (VACS), cited several technical and market-related factors behind the delays.
These include shortages of skilled workers, rising prices of materials and fuel, and lengthy import procedures for specialised equipment.
Delays in the completion of Package 4.8 under Component 3, invested in by Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), have also affected plans to connect shared technical infrastructure, including clean water supplies and wastewater drainage systems. They have also created difficulties in providing access roads to construction sites.
In response to the investors' requests, CAAV said December 24 was the final deadline for completing construction, installing equipment and putting the facilities into operation to ensure they are ready to serve Long Thanh Airport's operations. It said proposals to extend the operational deadline beyond that date lacked sufficient grounds.
Construction area for component project 4 at Long Thanh Airport (Photo: Ngoc Tan).
To ensure the airport's overall infrastructure operates in a coordinated manner, CAAV has proposed that the Ministry of Construction approve an extension for the six priority projects under Component 4, allowing construction, equipment installation and commissioning to be completed no later than December 23.
If the proposal is approved, the aviation authority will urgently negotiate contract amendments with the investors to ensure the facilities are ready in time for the airport's overall operational schedule.
