Airport in central Vietnam province Gia Lai to be upgraded

Tuy Hoa Airport in the former central province of Phu Yen (now Dak Lak) will be upgraded to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) 4C standards, with a capacity of 3 million passengers per year by 2030.

The south-central coastal province of Phu Yen and the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai were recently merged to form the new Gia Lai.

Under a proposal submitted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) to the Ministry of Construction regarding the development plan for Tuy Hoa Airport for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, the airport, located in Phu Yen ward, is designated as a domestic airport, serving both civil and military purposes.

By 2030, it will accommodate aircraft such as the Airbus A320, A321, Boeing 737, and other Code B aircraft. The runway 03L/21R will support basic two-way landing approaches.

A new passenger terminal (T2) with a floor area of approximately 20,400 square meters will be constructed southwest of the current terminal (T1) to meet the projected demand. The apron will be expanded both north and south to provide at least 11 Code C and three Code B aircraft stands.

Additionally, a portion of the existing T1 terminal will be temporarily repurposed as a cargo terminal, pending future expansion.

Long-term vision to 2050

By 2050, the airport’s capacity is expected to increase to 5 million passengers per year, with enhanced approach procedures including CAT I instrument landing capabilities on both runways.

The plan includes construction of a second runway (03R/21L), approximately 304.8 meters southeast of the current one; expansion of the apron to the northwest, increasing aircraft parking to 18 Code C and 8 Code B stands; expansion of the T2 terminal northeastward (on the site of the current T1), adding 12,000 sqm of floor area; and construction of a new dedicated cargo terminal (26,160 sqm) adjacent to the existing T1 terminal, capable of handling at least 3,500 tons of cargo per year.

The total land area required for Tuy Hoa Airport by 2050 is estimated at 691.11 hectares, including: 30.51 ha for civil aviation use, 339.91 ha for military purposes, and 320.69 ha designated for dual use.

Meeting growing demand

The plan aligns with Vietnam's national airport development master plan approved by the Prime Minister under Decision No. 648/QĐ-TTg dated June 7, 2023, which outlines a target of 3 million passengers by 2030 and 5 million by 2050 for Tuy Hoa Airport.

The urgency of updating the airport planning stems from the fact that the previous plan has expired and is no longer suitable. While it targeted only 300,000 passengers annually by 2025, the airport already handled 432,219 passengers in 2024, far surpassing its design capacity.

In addition, rapid urban development around the airport area underscores the need for clear boundary demarcation and land-use control to balance socio-economic development with national defense and aviation safety.

“Updating the master plan for Tuy Hoa Airport is both necessary and urgent,” a CAAV leader emphasized. “It ensures alignment with the national airport network development master plan while supporting regional economic growth and security priorities.”