At 4:00 p.m. on December 15, the first aircraft successfully landed at Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province. The landmark event posed considerable pressure on Vietnam’s aviation authorities, but the entire process was executed precisely according to plan with absolute safety.

Flight VN5001, operated by Vietnam Airlines using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, departed from Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) at 3:20 p.m. and made a technical landing at 4:00 p.m. at Long Thanh Airport in Long Thanh Commune, Dong Nai.

This was the first civilian aircraft to touch down at Long Thanh, serving as a final evaluation of operational conditions ahead of the official flight scheduled for December 19.

Inside the air traffic control tower, controllers closely monitored all technical parameters throughout the aircraft’s approach and landing. “This is a special, milestone flight. The pressure was immense, but every step went according to the plan and was conducted with complete safety,” said Nguyen Anh Tuan, an air traffic controller.

The technical flight included representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines' flight crew, and specialized teams tasked with conducting the flight inspection.

As is customary for inaugural landings, the aircraft was greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute. Long Thanh International Airport is a national key project, envisioned to become a modern gateway and one of Vietnam’s major air transit hubs. It is designed to meet growing aviation and international trade demands.

At this stage, the terminal building at Long Thanh remains under construction, with several components still being installed. Ahead of the landing, teams were deployed to clean the tarmac and prepare the taxiway area.

According to the plan, the aircraft was scheduled to depart from Long Thanh and return to Tan Son Nhat about two hours after landing, completing the technical test flight. This event plays a critical role in assessing the airport’s infrastructure, service procedures, and coordination capacity between operational units at Vietnam’s largest airport.

According to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, runway 1, the taxiway system, aircraft apron in front of the terminal, and supporting elements like signal lights, signage, and pavement markings have all been completed. Load-bearing capacity tests have also been conducted to confirm that the airport meets operational requirements for large aircraft as per the design.

Dang Anh Tuan, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines, stated that the successful technical landing marks a significant milestone in the airport’s commissioning process. He emphasized that it lays the foundation for Long Thanh to become a new regional aviation hub. Vietnam Airlines is committed to close coordination with regulatory agencies and partners to ensure safe operations, efficiency, and high service quality for passengers.

Three airlines to operate flights to Long Thanh on December 19

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has instructed Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, and Bamboo Airways to implement their plans for the first official flights to Long Thanh International Airport on December 19.

Vietnam Airlines will deploy one code E aircraft (Boeing 787) on the route between Noi Bai and Long Thanh, carrying senior Party and State officials (this is not a commercial flight). Following this, Vietjet and Bamboo Airways will each operate a code C aircraft (A320/321) on the Tan Son Nhat – Long Thanh – Tan Son Nhat route, with only flight crews and technical personnel onboard.

All carriers are required to coordinate closely with Long Thanh International Airport to ensure full operational readiness, including aircraft deployment, flight crews, and technical staffing. They must also review and update the airport’s published technical data to support these flights on December 19.

In addition, Vietjet and Bamboo Airways must work with aviation service providers to finalize their service plans and collaborate with authorities such as the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam and the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security to complete flight licensing and ensure aviation security compliance.

Hoang Ha - Hoang Anh