Emerging Airport Giant: Long Thành Set to Join the Ranks of Asia's Mega Airports, According to OAG Report
The Long Thanh International Airport, currently under construction in Vietnam's Đông Nai Province, is forecasted to become one of Asia's mega airports. According to a blog post by OAG, a global aviation analytics firm, the airport is expected to serve between 80 to 100 million passengers annually by 2030 to 2035 when fully built out.
The airport's development is planned in three phases, with significant expansions including multiple terminals and runways. In the first phase, scheduled for completion by 2026, the airport will have a capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo per year. The second phase, from 2026 to 2030, will see the capacity doubled to about 50 million passengers per year and 1.5 million tonnes of cargo, with two more terminals and a third runway added. The third phase, after 2030 and completed by 2035, will reach the airport's full designed capacity of 100 million passengers and five million tonnes of cargo per year, with the construction of a fourth terminal and runway.
The Long Thanh International Airport is being developed on a 5,000ha site with a total investment of VNĐ336 trillion (US$13 billion). Upon reaching its full capacity, it will serve up to 100 million passengers annually, making it one of the largest and busiest airports in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. The airport's design is inspired by the lotus flower, Vietnam's national flower.
Ground transportation improvements, including expressways and ring roads, are planned to support the airport's accessibility, with the airport expected to open around 2025.
Competing airports in the region include Noi Bai International Airport and Gia Binh Airport. Noi Bai’s capacity will be reduced to around 30 million passengers by 2030, while Gia Binh Airport in northern Vietnam is expanding rapidly, targeting about 30 million passengers by 2030 and potentially becoming North Vietnam’s largest airport after Long Thanh.
The inclusion of Long Thanh International Airport in the 100 million club within the next decade would reshape the global air travel industry and make it one of several new entrants. Asian governments view these aviation hubs as catalysts for foreign and domestic investment, tourism, and employment. The forecast by OAG suggests a significant increase in air travel activity at Long Thanh International Airport in the future, highlighting the growing influence of emerging airports across Asia.
- The development of Long Thanh International Airport in Vietnam's Đông Nai Province is expected to be a game-changer in the global air travel industry, given its forecasted capacity to serve between 80 to 100 million passengers annually by 2030 to 2035.
- Aside from domestic investment, the growth of air travel activity at Long Thanh International Airport is viewed by Asian governments as a catalyst for attracting foreign investment, tourism, and employment opportunities within the region.
- In the context of technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence (AI) might play a crucial role in managing and optimizing airport operations to handle the anticipated passenger and cargo volume at Long Thanh International Airport, thereby enhancing the efficiency and performance of the industry.
- As Long Thanh International Airport positions itself as one of the region's busiest and largest airports, competing with established hubs like Noi Bai International Airport and Gia Binh Airport, businesses and industries such as finance and energy are likely to see significant growth opportunities in the Southeast Asian market.
