Encouraging airlines to transfer international flights to Long Thanh airport from Summer 2026

Khuyến khích các hãng hàng không chuyển bay quốc tế sang sân bay Long Thành từ Hè 2026- Ảnh 1. — After 2030, when the regional transport infrastructure (roads and railways) is completed, Long Thanh will become a leading aviation center - Photo: ACV

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has just sent a report to the Ministry of Construction on the exploitation plan of Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh International Airports.

Accordingly, to effectively exploit Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports in accordance with the roadmap for putting Long Thanh airport into operation, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam proposed principles and plans to divide the exploitation of Tan Son Nhat - Long Thanh airport into 2 phases.

Dividing the exploitation of 2 airports into 2 phases

Specifically, the period 2025-2030 (divided by flight schedule season) with the principle of dividing exploitation: new international flights, increased exploitation flights to the Ho Chi Minh City area of airlines operating for the first time and of airlines currently operating at Tan Son Nhat airport will not be considered for licensing to operate to Tan Son Nhat airport but will be required to switch to operating at Long Thanh airport.

Airlines flights need to change operations from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Long Thanh International Airport.

The division and transfer of flights from Tan Son Nhat airport to Long Thanh airport must be consistent with the progress of aviation infrastructure construction at Long Thanh airport and facilities serving the operations of airlines, aviation staff; and the traffic system connecting Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring areas to Long Thanh airport.

In addition, the transition process must be reviewed and implemented according to the flight schedule season to ensure compliance with international practices in the operations, transportation, ticket sales, reservations and communication to passengers of airlines according to the provisions of Vietnamese law as well as the regulations of countries where airlines operate.

At the same time, in accordance with the development needs of the Vietnamese aviation market in general and the demand for travel to/from Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring areas, including considering using Tan Son Nhat International Airport as a backup for Long Thanh International Airport in case of overload.

From Summer 2026, airlines are encouraged to transfer international flights to Long Thanh airport.

At this stage, from the summer of 2026, airlines (especially Vietnamese airlines) are encouraged to move flights to/from Europe, America, and Oceania from Tan Son Nhat airport to Long Thanh airport.

After that, Long Thanh International Airport will expand flight routes to/from Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, Northeast Asia, international flights to/from Southeast Asia and other regions.

Tan Son Nhat airport still maintains regular international flights under 1,000km of Vietnamese airlines, at the same time this airport still takes on the main service of domestic flights, Long Thanh airport only operates a part.

After 2030, when the regional transport infrastructure (roads and railways) is completed, Long Thanh will become a leading aviation center, integrated with an airport urban area, free trade zone and expressway and metro network - similar to the Singapore or Amsterdam model.

Therefore, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam proposed that all regular international flights be transferred to Long Thanh airport, in order to establish a foundation for forming an international transit hub at the regional level in the Ho Chi Minh City area.

Meanwhile, Tan Son Nhat airport only operates domestic flights and irregular international commercial flights, and charter flights serving organizations and individuals.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said it will continue to research, propose and recommend a plan to divide the exploitation of Tan Son Nhat - Long Thanh airport in accordance with the progress of completing connecting infrastructure and the ability to develop an integrated airport urban area, logistics center, free trade zone with Long Thanh airport.

The leaders of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said that choosing the plan to divide the exploitation of Tan Son Nhat - Long Thanh airport is a complicated decision, which needs to be carefully evaluated and analyzed based on many criteria and must have consensus from state management agencies, airlines and the community; getting opinions from relevant parties, especially airlines, in the decision-making process is extremely important.

In addition, the infrastructure connecting Long Thanh - Ho Chi Minh City airport and other localities is a prerequisite to orient and determine the exploitation division plan of Tan Son Nhat - Long Thanh airport.

On that basis, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam recommends that the Ministry of Construction consider and direct the application of the plan to divide the exploitation of Tan Son Nhat - Long Thanh airport into 2 main phases; implemented on the principle of flexibility, the State proactively coordinates and divides the ratio of international - domestic exploitation at each port in each period; the division criteria will be periodically reviewed.

At the same time, direct the acceleration of investment in construction of connecting transport infrastructure projects (roads, railways) between Long Thanh Airport - Ho Chi Minh City and other localities; organize assessment, proactively coordinate and determine the ratio of international-domestic exploitation at each airport in accordance with the progress of completing connecting infrastructure projects.

Regarding the policy on take-off and landing slots, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam believes that it is necessary to reserve historical slots for airlines to transfer operations from Tan Son Nhat airport to Long Thanh; and have policies to support and facilitate airlines in the process of transferring operations.

Phan Trang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/khuyen-khich-cac-hang-hang-khong-chuyen-bay-quoc-te-sang-san-bay-long-thanh-tu-he-2026-102250929194105721.htm