Expansion sought for biggest airport in Vietnam's Central Highlands

In a recent letter sent to the government, the administration of Lam Dong Province stated Lien Khuong Airport in Duc Trong District, about 28 kilometers south of Da Lat resort town, should be upgraded from the 4D to 4E category as regulated by International Civil Aviation Organization.

The increased rating would allow it to handle Airbus A380, Boeing 787 or equivalent sized aircraft, with a bigger runway, taxiway and parking areas.

The project will also add an international terminal of 340 hectares (840 acres) to raise the airport's capacity from serving 2.1 million passengers per year to five million by 2030.

The province stated once approved, it would carry out the project between 2023 and 2026 under the public-private partnership format, with investment costs estimated at VND4.32 trillion.

Lien Khuong is the biggest of three airports in the Central Highlands region, with the other two being Pleiku airport in Gia Lai Province and Buon Ma Thuot airport in Dak Lak Province.

It has a runway stretching 3,250 meters long and 45 meters wide along with a passenger terminal of 1,000 square meters.