Danang airport starts $57 mln terminal expansion

Vietnam's central city of Danang has started construction on a nearly VND1.5 trillion ($56.88 million) expansion project for the international passenger terminal (T2) at Danang International Airport, as the city seeks to ease congestion and strengthen its position as a regional tourism hub.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of T2 was held on Tuesday by Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation JSC (AHT), the terminal’s operator.

The project will be developed on an additional area of 3,600 square meters, bringing the terminal’s total floor area to around 21,085 sqm after expansion.

Once completed, the check-in area will be significantly enlarged, with the number of check-in counters increasing from 54 to 85.

Passenger boarding capacity will also improve substantially as the number of aerobridge departure gates rises from four to seven, reducing the need for passengers to board aircraft via shuttle buses during unfavorable weather conditions.

The project also includes upgrades to technical infrastructure, including a next-generation baggage handling system (BHS).

The number of outbound baggage conveyor islands will increase from two to four, while inbound baggage claim belts will expand from four to six.

In addition, the terminal will adopt a variable air volume (VAV) air-conditioning system using inverter technology to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

AHT said the architectural design is one of the project’s key highlights. Rather than creating a separate standalone structure, the company chose to extend and restructure the existing terminal based on the original “seagull wings” design concept.

The roof of the expanded section will mirror the contours of the current terminal, creating the visual effect of a flock of seagulls in flight while maintaining architectural consistency across the entire complex.

The design is also intended to optimize passenger movement flows. Inside the terminal, biophilic architectural principles will be applied extensively, integrating greenery, natural light and ventilation systems throughout the interior to create a more relaxing environment for travelers.

According to AHT, the decision to expand T2 was based on sustained strong passenger growth. In 2019, the terminal served more than 7.1 million passengers, exceeding its original design capacity of 4 million passengers annually by 79%. Passenger throughput remained high in subsequent years, reaching 6.18 million in 2024 and 6.81 million in 2025.

The expansion project also marks the first step toward implementing Vietnam’s long-term plan to develop “two international airports within one city,” referring to Danang International Airport and Chu Lai Airport under the aviation development strategy through 2030 with a vision to 2050.

Under the plan, the Danang region is expected to operate two modern international airports with combined capacity of 25 million passengers annually by 2030, creating new growth space for tourism, services and the broader economy of Danang and Vietnam’s south-central coastal region.

Do Trong Hau, deputy general director of AHT, said the expansion was not only intended to address current congestion pressures but also reflected the company’s commitment to supporting Danang’s socio-economic development.

“As a five-star terminal, we are committed to delivering the project on schedule while creating a modern and safe aviation space that also reflects local culture and hospitality,” Hau said.

According to the current timeline, the T2 expansion project is expected to be completed and operational during the 2026-2030 period, raising total design capacity to 6 million international passengers per year.

Originally launched in 2015, T2 was completed within just 18 months and officially opened on May 19, 2017, in time to serve the APEC 2017 Leaders’ Week hosted by Vietnam.

Since then, the terminal has become a notable example of private-sector participation in Vietnam’s aviation infrastructure sector and is currently the only airport terminal in the country to receive Skytrax five-star certification for three consecutive years from 2024 to 2026.