The future of Vietnamese aviation hangs in the balance! A crucial debate is brewing over the operational strategy of the upcoming Long Thanh International Airport, and the decisions made now could define Vietnam's role in the regional aviation landscape. The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the entity spearheading the ambitious Long Thanh project, is sounding the alarm: delaying the full transfer of flights from the existing Tan Son Nhat airport could be disastrous.
ACV's concerns are detailed in a recent communication to the Ministry of Construction, directly responding to a proposal from Vietnam Airlines. The national carrier has requested a more flexible, phased approach to the transition.
Vietnam Airlines' rationale stems from a pressing issue: an aircraft shortage, exacerbated by mandatory engine recalls. Their proposal suggests an immediate shift of long-haul routes to the Americas, Europe, and Australia to Long Thanh, with a gradual move of Asian routes later.
But here's where it gets controversial... ACV is pushing back, arguing that sticking to the original plan is paramount. This plan dictates that Long Thanh will handle 80% of international flights and 10% of domestic flights, while Tan Son Nhat retains the remaining 20% and 90%, respectively.
ACV emphasizes the critical role of domestic carriers in the transfer market. They point to 2024 data, where domestic airlines facilitated a staggering 95% of Tan Son Nhat's 3.16 million transfer passengers. ACV believes that securing the presence of these carriers at Long Thanh is the key to the new airport's success.
The operator warns that any delay in the operational shift will significantly hinder passenger flow and cripple the development of essential route networks. This, they caution, will immediately impact Vietnam's competitiveness against established regional hubs like Suvarnabhumi (Thailand), Changi (Singapore), and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), which are actively vying for passenger traffic.
An analysis by Independent Auditing Consulting (IAC) Co., Ltd. supports ACV's concerns. The firm predicts that a fragmented route network could lead to carriers losing market share. They estimate a potential 9% drop in throughput during the initial phase, which translates to over two million passengers annually. This could, in turn, delay Long Thanh's growth by an additional eight to nine years.
While ACV acknowledges the need for a staged transition to accommodate operational realities, they insist on clear deadlines and specific guidelines for each market segment, particularly Northeast and Southeast Asia.
With Long Thanh's initial operation nearing, ACV is urging the Ministry of Construction and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) to swiftly issue a transition roadmap. This roadmap should include incentive mechanisms to encourage airlines to move operations to Long Thanh. Simultaneously, airlines must prepare their medium- and long-term fleets to meet the demands of the new route network.
Long Thanh airport, located approximately 40 km from Tan Son Nhat, covers an expansive 5,000 hectares and carries an estimated price tag of VND336.63 trillion (US$13.3 billion). Designed to serve 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo annually in its first phase, construction is in its final stages, with calibration test flights recently underway.
What do you think? Do you agree with ACV's concerns, or do you believe Vietnam Airlines' proposed phased approach is more practical? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Is the fear of losing competitiveness against regional rivals a valid concern?
