Cat Bi airport upgrade given thumbs up

The Prime Minister has approved a plan to upgrade Cat Bi International Airport in the northern city of Hai Phong to receive Boeing B747, Boeing B777 and Airbus A321 aircraft.

The Prime Minister has approved a plan to upgrade Cat Bi International Airport in the northern city of Hai Phong to receive Boeing B747, Boeing B777 and Airbus A321 aircraft.

Under the VND5 trillion (US$240 million) plan which announced on October 7, the international terminal will act as a standby for Noi Bai International Airport and also as a dual airfield for both civilian and military purposes.

By 2015, it will become a 4E level international airport under regulations from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

It will serve 2 million passengers annually and handle 20,000 tonnes of cargo by 2015, and raise the corresponding figures to 8 million and 250,000 tonnes by 2015.  

After the new terminal is put into operation, the old one will become a low-cost carrier or cargo terminal, or be used for other purposes.

A business and service zone is also planned covering an area of about 4,000 square metres, with room to expand to 12,000 square metres based on actual demand.

Currently, Cat Bi Airport services five HCM City-Hai Phong flights and one Da Nang-Hai Phong flight everyday.