The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and the People’s Committee of central Nghe An province have inaugurated a lotus-shaped terminal of Vinh Airport, which is capable of serving 3 million passengers per year and 1,000 ones at rush hour.

Present at the January 31 inauguration ceremony were National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, among others.

The construction of the two-storey terminal began in April 2013. The facility covers a total area of 11,706 square meters, including 28 check-in desks.

On the occasion, local authorities and the ACV announced the scheme to upgrade Vinh Airport into an international one, including a project expanding airport apron and car parking lots, worth around 1.2 trillion VND (57.12 million USD).

The operation of the key projects is expected to ease the overload at the airport and ensure security and safety for passengers, thus contributing to the socio-economic development of the province and the north-central region.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hailed the local efforts to ensure the progress of the projects and called for more investment to upgrade Vinh Airport to international standards as soon as possible.

The same day, the low-cost carrier Vietjet Air hosted a ceremony to welcome its 10 millionth passenger at Vinh Airport.

In proximity to National Highway 1A, the north-south railway system, Cua Lo port and border gates bordering Laos , Vinh Airport has become more crucial to the regional economic growth.

Last year, the airport welcomed around 1.25 million passengers. It has recorded an average growth of nearly 44 percent over the past 13 years, the highest rate in the country.-VNA