It may take two or three years to conduct feasibility study report and preparations for the construction of the Long Thanh International Airport, Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang to reporters after the National Assembly approved project.

The feasibility study report for each construction stage will be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration, he said, adding that the construction  can only begin in 2018.

Minister Thang also said that the selection of organizations in charge of making feasibility study report will be done through international bidding.

The category 4F airport is expected to serve as an aviation hub in both the country and the Southeast Asian region.

Covering an area of 5,000ha, the airport, located in Dong Nai province, will handle 100 million passengers and five million tons of cargo by 2050.

By 2025, the first phase of the airport, consisting of the construction of a runway and a passenger terminal capable of serving 25 million passengers a year, may be put into use.

The project has total investment of US$16.03 billion sourced from State budget, official development assistance, and public-private partnership among others.

VGP