Long Thanh International Airport: New US$3.76bn Asia-Pacific Aviation Hub Achieves Operational Readiness

Mohd Hanif Ismail - : Dec 16, 2025 - : 12:46 pm

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Vietnam’s ambitious infrastructure strategy reached a critical milestone this week as Long Thanh International Airport (LTIA), set to be the nation’s largest aviation gateway, completed its inaugural technical test flight. A wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the largest aircraft currently operated by the national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, executed a successful landing and take-off on December 15, signalling the operational readiness of the first phase of the colossal development in Đồng Nai Province. This pivotal technical assessment, which included validation of all major flight-operation infrastructure, such as the air traffic control coordination, navigation systems, and the new 4,000-metre runway, paves the way for the facility’s official debut.

Following the success of the technical validation, the new hub is preparing for its first official domestic flights on December 19. The inaugural sequence of operations will see three of Vietnam’s key airlines—Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways—conducting landings, demonstrating the airport’s capacity to handle multiple operators simultaneously. The successful culmination of the critical testing phase underscores the intense national focus on delivering this strategic project on time and in accordance with international safety standards.

Details surrounding the successful technical landing of the wide-body jet, the subsequent official flight schedule, and the ongoing rapid pace of construction were widely reported by media outlets including VietNamNews, VnExpress International, VietnamPlus, and Travel and Tour World. These reports confirm that the construction teams have been working tirelessly, or “running to finish,” to ensure all International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards were met ahead of the official commissioning date.

A New Regional Hub for Asia-Pacific Aviation

Long Thanh International Airport is not merely an expansion of existing capacity but a foundational asset designed to solidify Vietnam’s strategic position on the Asia-Pacific aviation map. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has publicly mandated that LTIA must serve as the key anchor for aviation-led economic growth, transforming the country’s southern region. Once fully operational, the facility is designed to assume the role of the primary international gateway, immediately alleviating the severe congestion issues that have long plagued the ageing Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City.

The sheer scale of the vision places LTIA among the largest greenfield airport projects in the Asia-Pacific. The airport is envisioned as a regional hub for passenger transfer, extensive cargo handling, and specialised aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. This move is expected to attract significant foreign investment and drive ancillary aerospace industries, creating a modern aerotropolis that will boost regional connectivity.

Phase One Delivery: Capacity and Investment

The first phase of the Long Thanh project is a considerable undertaking, designed to meet the nation’s surging demand for air travel and logistics immediately. This initial stage involves the construction of the terminal, the 4,000m runway, and ancillary infrastructure necessary to achieve a capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo annually. The total investment for this initial phase is substantial, exceeding VND99 trillion (approximately US$3.76 billion).

Upon the final completion of all phases, which are planned to include three modern passenger terminals and four runways, the airport’s total capacity is projected to reach an impressive 100 million passengers and five million tonnes of cargo per annum. This vast capacity expansion is expected to be vital for supporting the Asia-Pacific's continued strong rebound in air traffic and positioning Vietnam as a dominant logistics and passenger transit nexus in Southeast Asia over the coming decades.