Vietnam international airport to shut down for 6 months for upgrade

Located in Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands, the airport will temporarily halt operations to allow extensive maintenance and upgrades, including renovating runways and taxiways. New infrastructure for drainage, lighting and updated warning systems will also be installed.

An exact date for the airport's shutdown has not been determined but it will avoid peak travel season to reduce impacts on local residents and businesses.

Provincial authorities and relevant ministries have been tasked with working closely with the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the project's investor, to keep the work on schedule.

Situated approximately 28 kilometers from downtown Da Lat, Lien Khuong Airport is serving around 2.5 million passengers annually, including numerous tourists from South Korea and Thailand.

The airport was initially built by the French in 1933 and upgraded by the U.S. in 1956. It has since undergone several expansions. Most notably, the runway was extended in 1997 to accommodate larger aircraft, achieving International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 3C standards.

Between 2003 and 2007, further renovations elevated it to ICAO 4D level, supporting popular aircraft like the Airbus A320 and A321.

The airport is set to meet ICAO 4E standards by 2030, enabling operations for wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350. Passenger capacity is expected to double to 5 million annually, alongside transporting 20,000 tons of cargo.

Post-2030 plans include extending the runway to 3,600 meters and increasing annual passenger capacity further to 7 million.

This strategic enhancement positions Lien Khuong Airport as a vital aviation hub for Vietnam's Central Highlands, significantly improving connectivity for Da Lat with national and international destinations.