ACV proposes shifting most international flights from Tan Son Nhat to Long Thanh by 2027

Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has proposed shifting the bulk of international flights from Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City to the Long Thanh International Airport in neighboring Dong Nai province under a phased plan that could see more than 90% of international passenger traffic handled by the new airport as early as 2027.

Under the proposal submitted to authorities, ACV outlined a gradual transition beginning when Long Thanh starts commercial operations. In the initial phase, from December 1, 2026 through March 27, 2027, all long-haul international flights, including cargo services, would be moved to Long Thanh. This segment is estimated to account for about 19% of international passenger volume in the Ho Chi Minh City area.

From the summer 2027 schedule through 2030, ACV plans to transfer most of the remaining international routes, except for short-haul flights under 1,000 km operated by Vietnamese airlines. If implemented, Long Thanh would handle the vast majority of international traffic serving southern Vietnam, effectively becoming the country’s primary international gateway.

After 2030, the plan envisions relocating all scheduled international services to Long Thanh, leaving Tan Son Nhat to focus mainly on domestic routes, charter flights, and irregular international operations.

The proposal is part of broader preparations for the launch of Long Thanh, a project designed to ease chronic congestion at Tan Son Nhat, which has long operated beyond its designed capacity.

To support the transition, ACV, the investor of Long Thanh airport, said it has set up dedicated subsidiaries responsible for passenger services, cargo handling, and aviation fuel at the new airport.

Two preparatory phases – covering operational frameworks, core processes, commercial policy, and financial planning – have already been completed. The next stage will involve operational trials, with three test runs scheduled for September, October, and November 2026.

Airlines, however, have raised concerns about the shift, particularly the lack of connectivity between domestic flights at Tan Son Nhat and international services at Long Thanh. Industry representatives have also suggested that airport service fees may need to be reduced in the early stages to encourage carriers to move operations, as passenger demand could initially be affected by unfamiliarity with the new airport.