On the morning of June 23, the Ministry of Transport coordinated with the People's Committee of Lam Dong province to organize a ceremony to announce the conversion of Lien Khuong Airport (Lien Nghia town, Duc Trong district) into an international airport. This is the first international airport in the Central Highlands region.

The event was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan; Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoc, Acting Secretary of Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee, leaders of the Provincial People's Committee and departments.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended the ceremony announcing the Decision to convert Lien Khuong Airport (Lam Dong province) into an international airport - Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

Mr. Le Anh Tuan, Deputy Minister of Transport, said that Lien Khuong airport becoming an international airport is the effort of Lam Dong province and the entire aviation industry.

However, in order for Lien Khuong International Airport to operate effectively and connect major economic centers, the Ministry of Transport requests relevant units and the Provincial People's Committee to continue to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry and Vietnam Airlines Corporation to deploy investment and upgrade Lien Khuong International Airport, increase efficiency and develop the airport according to the approved plan.

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Mr. Le Anh Tuan, Deputy Minister of Transport, presented the decision to representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam and representatives of Lien Khuong International Airport. Photo: NX

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Phuc, Vice Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee, said that Lien Khuong International Airport has an important position not only for the locality but also for the Central Highlands provinces.

According to Mr. Phuc, Lam Dong province hopes that direct flights to many countries will create favorable conditions for developing international tourism and transporting goods internationally the fastest and most.

Along with that, Lien Khuong becoming an international airport helps increase regional connectivity, exploiting potential advantages for Lam Dong and the Central Highlands. In addition, Lam Dong province requested the Corporation to pay attention to investing in the airport from level 4D to 4E according to approved regulations.

Lien Khuong Airport is a 4D airport according to the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The airport has a runway 3,250m long, 45m wide, meeting the exploitation of code D aircraft such as Boeing B757, Airbus A300 and equivalent or lower.

According to the Lien Khuong airport planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Ministry of Transport in May 2024, Lien Khuong airport is an international airport, an airport used jointly by civil and military.

In the period of 2021 - 2030, Lien Khuong airport will be a 4E airport and a level 2 military airport, with a capacity of 5 million passengers/year and 20,000 tons of cargo/year. It will operate code C aircraft such as Airbus A320, A321 and code E aircraft such as Boeing B747, B787, Airbus A350 as well as equivalent aircraft.

By 2050, Lien Khuong Airport will increase its capacity to 7 million passengers and 30,000 tons of cargo per year. By 2050, the first international airport in the Central Highlands will extend its runway by 350m to 3,600m long and 45m wide.