Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) has recommended launching commercial operations at Long Thanh International Airport on December 1, with an initial focus on selected domestic and regional international services.
Under the proposal, Vietnam Airlines would operate flights from Long Thanh to Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangzhou and Manila, alongside a domestic route to Hanoi. Vietjet plans services to Hanoi, Haiphong, Vinh and Thanh Hoa.
During the initial phase, running until March 27, 2027, Tan Son Nhat International Airport would continue handling existing international services, except for routes transferred to Long Thanh, while no new international routes would be approved at Tan Son Nhat.
From late March 2027, ACV proposes moving all long-haul international passenger and cargo flights to Long Thanh, including services to Europe, the Americas, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia.
By March 2028, Long Thanh is expected to handle almost all international flights, with the exception of scheduled services under 1,000 km operated by Vietnamese carriers, which would remain at Tan Son Nhat.
To encourage airlines to shift operations, ACV plans to offer discounts of 20 per cent to 50 per cent on aviation service charges under its Long Thanh Launch incentive programme during the 2026-2027 period.
ACV has also asked aviation authorities to prioritise slots for airlines relocating to Long Thanh and urged faster completion of key transport links, including the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh Expressway expansion.
The more than USD 16 billion airport, being built in the southern city of Dong Nai, will handle 25 million passengers a year in its first phase, with ultimate capacity of 100 million.
ACV said all domestic airlines had registered plans to operate at Long Thanh by the end of June, while representatives of 34 foreign airlines had visited the airport to prepare for its planned launch later this year.
