Foreign consultant to be hired to study additional runway

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Cabinet have decided to hire a foreign consultant to study opening another runway to raise the capacity of Tan Son Nhat international airport based in Ho Chi Minh City.

During a press conference following a meeting on June 12, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung, also the government’s spokesperson, said it was the second government meeting on the issue.

After hearing reports, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the Transport Ministry to hire a foreign consulting firm to survey and outline a plan to expand Tan Son Nhat airport, in an effort to reduce overloading.

The survey should be sent to the PM within six months, he said.

The Defence Minister was asked to halt construction of works related to auxiliary infrastructure of a golf course nearby the airport like a golf training school, hi-end villas and apartments for lease to await the report.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, aviation experts suggested the runway should be at least 2,600m long and the two runways should be 1,750m apart to ensure safety.

Tan Son Nhat airport served 32 million passengers in 2016 even though its capacity was planned to be only 25 million per year until 2025.-VNA

VNA