Long Thanh Airport builders add night shifts to meet deadline

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) reported progress on the Long Thanh International Airport project to construction minister Tran Hong Minh during an inspection visit to the site in Dong Nai on June 13.

The inspection team reviewed several key components of the project, including transport links, internal airport roads, the passenger terminal and aircraft apron areas, to assess progress and address obstacles ahead of the airport's planned opening later this year.

According to ACV, the project has now surpassed 76 per cent completion. Workforce shortages have gradually eased, with the project currently lacking fewer than 2,000 workers compared with planned staffing levels.

Contractors have organised multiple work shifts and round-the-clock construction schedules to keep the project on track.

Nguyen Duc Hung, acting chief executive of ACV, said some finishing works at the passenger terminal remained short of workers, particularly skilled technical labour. Other sections of the project are also facing shortages of vehicle operators.

ACV has instructed contractors to deploy sufficient staffing levels, and where possible exceed requirements, to maintain day-and-night construction and minimise weather-related disruptions during the peak rainy season.

The Long Thanh construction site currently employs an average of more than 6,800 workers directly on site, up 6.51 per cent from the end of May. ACV is pressing contractors to increase the workforce to nearly 9,000 direct workers, supported by additional indirect staff, in an effort to accelerate progress.

During the inspection, Tran Hong Minh stressed the importance of meeting the project's completion target. He instructed relevant agencies to review construction volumes and payment documentation while ensuring engineers and workers receive adequate support as they continue working around the clock.