Three provinces propose to be added to the national airport planning
Careful consideration must be given to the airport planning and development to ensure feasibility, experts have warned, as localities across the country propose the airports in their provinces.
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| Airport planning must ensure financial feasibility, efficiency. In the photo, long line of passengers waiting for check-in at Tan Son Nhat airport. (Photo: VNA) |
During the past few weeks, three provinces, including Tuyen Quang, Son La and Kon Tum, sent documents to the Ministry of Transport proposing airports in their provinces be added to the national airport planning.
Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh, Ninh Thuan, Dak Nong, Ha Giang, Bac Giang and Binh Phuoc provinces also raised similar proposals in the past.
While four plans for road, maritime, inland waterway and railway are already approved, the national airport planning system in the 2021-30 period has not yet been completed.
Aviation expert Nguyen Bach Tung said as the planning continues, localities are applying for permission to build airports to promote socio-economic development.
According to statistics of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, there are currently 22 airports for civil use in Vietnam, though only Van Don International Airport was developed with private investment.
Under the Ministry of Transport's draft, nine more airports will be developed by 2050, bringing the total airports for civil use to 31.
The six airports to be developed by 2030 are Long Thanh, Phan Thiet, Quang Tri, Sa Pa, Lai Chau and Na San. By 2050, a further three, Cao Bang, Hai Phong and a second airport for Hanoi, will be developed.
Tung said that from each locality's perspective, the airport development proposal is understandable as it would help promote tourism and local economic development. However, when looking at the master planning for the country, the rampant development of airports would cause many problems.
"The national airport network needs appropriate planning to avoid airspace conflicts while ensuring investment efficiency," he said.
Tung cited statistics that in pre-pandemic 2019, there are only four airports handling over nine million passengers. They were Tan Son Nhat (41 million), Noi Bai (29 million), Da Nang (15.5 million) and Cam Ranh (9.7 million).
(Source: VNA)
