Con Dao Airport will be upgraded to receive larger aircraft like Airbus A319, A320neo and A320ceo to meet increasing air travel demand to and from Con Dao Island off the country’s southern coast.

An ATR 72 plane sits at Con Dao Airport. Con Dao Airport will be upgraded to receive larger aircraft 

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the Ministry of Transport has submitted an amended plan for upgrading airports, including Con Dao Airport, until 2020, to the Prime Minister for approval.

The airport will be expanded so that it will be able to handle Airbus A319, A320neo and A320ceo aircraft, which are among the most modern jetliners being used by national carrier Vietnam Airlines and low-cost carrier Vietjet.

According to the original plan approved in 2006, Con Dao Airport would be able to handle 500,000 passengers a year by 2025. However, the airport achieved average growth of 22.7% in the number of passengers between 2010 and 2016. Last year alone, it received 400,000 passengers, up 29% year-on-year.

The French-built Con Dao Airport was upgraded in 2003 by Southern Airports Corporation to accommodate ATR 72 (twin-engine turboprop, short-haul regional airliner), Fokker 70 (narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-range aircraft) and similar planes.

In May 2004, Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) launched HCMC-Con Dao service, becoming the only airline to operate air services to and from Con Dao. At present, only ATR 72 aircraft are used for flights to Con Dao Airport due to the short runway.

In related news, CAAV has sent a letter to Hai Au Aviation Joint Stock Company showing its support for the company’s plan to operate hydroplane flights between Halong City and Co To Island.

Quang Ninh Province government has asked the Ministry of Transport to support Hai Au Aviation to complete essential procedures to put Halong-Co To hydroplane flights into service this summer.

In addition, there should be more take-off and landing locations for hydroplanes, especially in Van Don District and Mong Cai City. Hydroplane service should also be launched in other localities.

After three years of operation, Hai Au Aviation has operated nearly 3,500 flights and served 29,000 visitors to Halong. Around 90% of them are foreign tourists from 47 countries and territories.

SGT