VietNamNet Bridge – The surface of the runway 25R/07L, one of the two runways of HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport, was damaged by lightning in two locations, covering a total area of 10m2. The runway will be closed from July 16 for repair.

According to a press release from the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) on July 13, the runway will be closed for repair from July 16 to 19.

The CAAV asked the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, Tan Son Nhat Airport, and the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation to have plans to ensure normal operations at Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Air carriers are asked to change their flight schedules to fit with the repair period.

This runway serves 35 flights per hour.

Meanwhile the CAA has submitted three plan options for the construction of a third runway at Noi Bai International Airport to the Ministry of Transport. The highest estimated cost was about VND78 trillion (US$3.5 billion).

The first plan places the new runway to the south of the Ha Noi-based airport. New technical infrastructure, including terminals, an aircraft apron and support buildings, will be located nearby.

Investment cost of this option tops the three plans. Land clearance work would account for about 52 per cent of the total budget - about VND40 trillion ($1.8 billion).

The second plan, which is likely to be adopted, would place the runway to the north, while terminals and the apron will be placed to the west.

Estimated expense of the plan is cut down by half at VND38.8 trillion ($1.7 billion) compared to the first option. The cost for land clearance work is also reduced to only more than VND11 trillion ($500 million).  

Thu Ly