The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, central Binh Dinh provincial People’s Committee and relevant agencies on December 3 approved adjustments to the Phu Cat airport planning by 2020 with a vision to 2030.

Under the adjusted planning, an 8,500-square-metre passenger terminal, which is able to welcome 1.2 million passengers per year, will be constructed adjacent to the existing one by 2020. Meanwhile, by 2030, expansion and upgrades will be made to the current terminals, increasing its capacity to 3.4 million passengers a year.

A plane at Phu Cat Airport in Binh Dinh province.

Parking areas will house seven planes by 2020 and 10 in 2030, including two positions for code E planes-heavy transport aircraft such as B777.

A 15,000-tonne-of-good cargo terminal will be built by 2030.

Phu Cat Airport received 427,000 passengers and 1,340 tonnes of goods in 2014, an increase of 46.7 percent and 58.7 percent, respectively, compared with 2013.

The national carrier Vietnam Airlines operates a return flight from the airport to Hanoi once a day and two daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City. Meanwhile, Vietjet Air and Jetstar Pacific also operate one daily flight from Phu Cat Airport to HCM City.

New domestic flights connecting Phu Cat- Hai Phong, Phu Cat- Can Tho and Phu Cat- Da Nang are expected to become operational soon.

The Phu Cat Airport holds an important position in Binh Dinh's socio-economic development strategy. After completion, it is expected to help lure more investment to the province and the central and Central Highlands regions as well.

Source: VNA