Runway construction completed for test flights at Long Thanh, Vietnam's largest airport to be

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam, which operates most airports in the country, announced on Saturday evening that the lighting system for Long Thanh airport’s runway has been activated, passed trial operations, and is now ready for test flights.

The runway at Long Thanh International Airport is lit up on the evening of April 26, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Thai Ha

It uses LED technology imported from Europe, meeting the highest technical standards in the international aviation sector.

The airport is also equipped with an ILS/DME precision landing guidance system, which helps aircraft approach and land safely even in poor weather.

The two systems are integrated to ensure safe and precise takeoffs and landings under any weather condition, enhancing the airport’s operational capacity and stability.

To complete the project, contractors have had to mobilize 1,025 personnel and 243 pieces of equipment, and deploy 30 construction teams to install all necessary systems, ensuring stable and safe operations, according to ACV.

"The successful activation of the lighting system is an important milestone, which helps confirm that the runway has basically met the technical requirements needed to carry out test flights, all before April 30 as planned," ACV said.

The runway at Long Thanh International Airport is completed and ready for test flights as of April 26, 2025. Photo by Thai Ha

The Long Thanh International Airport project spans 5,000 hectares with an estimated investment of about VND336.6 trillion (US$14 billion). It is set to replace Tan Son Nhat Airport in neighboring Ho Chi Minh City as the largest in Vietnam.

The first phase of the project, scheduled for completion in 2026, involves the construction of a runway, a passenger terminal and supporting facilities with a capacity of 25 million passengers per year.

The first runway is 4 km long and 70 meters wide, capable of accommodating the most advanced aircraft in operation.

This is one of the components of a VND7 trillion package that, in addition to the runway, includes taxiways, connecting taxiways, rapid exit taxiways, aircraft aprons, and service vehicle aprons.