The Ministry of Transport of Vietnam has authorized plans to expand the airport on Con Dao Island, which will be able to accommodate up to 2 million people and 4,400 tons of cargo annually by 2030, due to increased travel demand and larger planes being allowed to operate.
Con Dao is a 16-island archipelago in the Ba Ria-Vung Tau region of southern Vietnam. It has become a famous tourist destination due to its beaches and historical monuments. Despite the pandemic, the airport handled 447,750 travelers in 2020, up 4% from 400,000 in 2019.
Built during the French colonial period and then upgraded in 2003, Con Dao Airport can now welcome 400,000 passengers a year serving both civil and military use. The airport closes at night as there are no runway lights. The only carriers now operating regular flights to the island are Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, and Bamboo Airways.
According to the proposed upgrade, the runway will be extended from 30 to 45 meters to accommodate larger planes like Airbus A319neo. A parallel taxiway and three additional taxiways will be developed to connect to the runway. A new apron for eight aircraft, a new air traffic control tower, a synchronized airport beacon system, a cargo terminal, a parking lot, and a landing gear system for night flights are all part of the proposal.
The renovation is expected to cost more than VND 5.4 trillion (USD 234.7 million), including land purchase costs of VND 76.4 billion (USD 3.3 million).
(Sources: Vietnamnews, VNExpress)