Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet to operate international flights from new Long Thanh mega airport

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the state-owned developer of Long Thanh, said Tuesday it had received operating plans from three domestic airlines and is also working with several international carriers in preparation for the opening of the new airport in Dong Nai City later this year.

Vietravel Airlines plans to begin commercial operations from Long Thanh in late 2026 before increasing flight frequency during the 2027 summer schedule, the ACV said.

The ACV has also held discussions with Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Airport Ground Services Co. Ltd. for the allocation of check-in counters, self-service kiosks, self-bag-drop facilities, departure gates, baggage claim belts, and other ground-handling infrastructure.

The Long Thanh Airport Project Management Board has met the International Air Transport Association, and representatives from 34 foreign airlines, including Korean Air, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines, to discuss operational plans.

The ACV has signed a consultancy contract with a consortium led by Incheon International Airport to develop the airport’s operational framework.

Work on operating procedures, commercial policies, business plans, and financial strategy has been completed.

Vietnam’s largest airport is being built on 5,000 hectares at a cost of VND336.63 trillion (US$12.8 billion). After the first phase, it will have a capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo annually.

It is scheduled to begin trial operations in September this year and commercial operations a few months later.