Dien Bien Airport upgrade goes up a notch to receive bigger aircraft

According to the adjusted plan released by the Ministry of Transport, the airport’s runway will be expanded to sport a length of 2,700 meters and width of 280 meters, from the current corresponding dimensions of 1,830 meters and 30 meters.

The upgrade project will build a new 15 meters wide taxiway.

The apron is being expanded to accommodate bigger aircraft, including three Airbus A320, A321 or equivalents and one ATR72.

The passenger terminal will be enlarged to serve 500,000 passengers from the current capacity of 300,000.

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam under the ministry has been appointed investor of the VND1.5 trillion (over $65 million) project, which will be carried out in 34 months.

The Dien Bien Airport in the eponymous province, 500 kilometers to the west of Hanoi, was originally a military airport built in 1954.