Major Expansion: Gia Binh Airport’s $7.5b Upgrade To Boost Northern Vietnam’s Aviation Sector

The Gia Binh International Airport, currently under construction near Hanoi, is anticipated to cost around VND196.37 trillion (US$7.5 billion) due to recent upgrades. The airport, situated in Bac Ninh Province, 40 kilometers from Hanoi, is now projected to handle 50 million passengers and 2.5 million tons of cargo per year by 2050. This is a significant increase from the previously predicted 15 million passengers and 1.6 million tons of cargo.

Construction and Upgrades

The construction of the airport commenced in December of the previous year, with the Ministry of Construction giving the approval for the upgrades recently. The airport is being constructed by the Masterise Group, a property developer. It is being perceived as the primary aviation gateway for the northern region, intended for both passenger and cargo transport.

The airport is planned to house four runways, spaced sufficiently apart to allow for independent operations. These runways will be constructed in accordance with 4F standards, which means the airport will be able to accommodate large aircraft, such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330.

Comparison with Noi Bai International Airport

Currently, Hanoi’s primary airport is the Noi Bai International Airport, which has a capacity of 25 million passengers per year. However, there are plans in place to increase this capacity to 55 million by 2030 and 85 million by 2050. This indicates a significant push for development in the region’s aviation sector, with the Gia Binh International Airport being a crucial part of this expansion.