Construction began in September 2025 and has accelerated after a year of work, with several major components nearing completion ahead of the APEC 2027 summit.
Despite prolonged rain in late September, crews continued installing steel structures, roofing and glass façades at the new Terminal 2.
The terminal's main concrete structure is about 95 per cent complete, while its main steel roof structure has been completed. The project uses more than 51,000 tonnes of structural steel, including about 33,000 tonnes for the roof and two wings.
Around 9,500 unitised glass panels are being installed on the terminal façade, designed to withstand Phu Quoc's sun, rain and coastal winds.
Inside the terminal, crews are installing electrical and other technical systems alongside architectural finishing work.
An automated baggage handling system stretching more than eight kilometres in its first phase is being installed across three floors and was about 60 per cent complete as of September.
Once operational, the system will be able to handle about 7,560 pieces of departing baggage and 6,300 pieces of arriving baggage per hour.
The project management board said 7,671 workers and engineers were deployed across Terminal 2, the VIP terminal, catering facilities, aprons and the second runway.
Tran Van Chung, a supervisor for Terminal 2 finishing work, said prolonged heavy rain had mainly affected outdoor work, particularly the roof and façade, as well as the transport of construction materials from the mainland.
Contractors have increased material deliveries during favourable weather and expanded storage areas to maintain supplies during periods of heavy rain.
The airport expansion is scheduled to be completed and begin operations in April 2027, raising annual capacity to around 20-24 million passengers by 2030.
Under longer-term plans, the completed terminal complex is designed to resemble a phoenix and handle up to 50 million passengers annually.
A technical flight is scheduled for December 30, 2026, as a key test ahead of the airport's planned opening.
