Haiphong airport seeks approval for second terminal

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is proposing the Prime Minister allow the construction of the second passenger terminal at Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong, northern Vietnam’s biggest port city.

The new terminal, invested by Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), is designed to handle five million passengers per year. ACV is a joint stock company with the state holding a 95.4% stake.

Once finished, the additional terminal (T2) would serve as a domestic terminal, while the first T1 manages international flights.

The 50-year lifespan terminal will be funded entirely by ACV capital, at VND2,405 billion ($103.7 million), with no loans. It was set to be completed in 18 months from the completion of site clearance and land allocation.

Cat Bi, located in Thanh To ward, Hai An district, includes a 3,050-meter-long and 45-meter-wide runway, a taxiway, and an apron serving up to 10 mid-sized aircraft like the Airbus A320, and A321.

The airport can also receive large-sized aircraft like the Boeing 777 and 787, Airbus A330 and A350, as well as provide night services.

Its T1, with total floor space of 15,630 square meters and two separate levels for arrival and departure, serves both domestical and international travelers. It can handle 1,000 passengers every peak hour, and two million per year. It was invested by ACV at VND1,450 billion ($62.55 million), and became operational on May 12, 2016.

In recent years, Cat Bi has been listed among Vietnam’s airports with the fastest growth in passenger and cargo volume. It plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of Hai Phong as well as the Red River Delta region.