Da Nang government submitted to the Ministry of Transport (MOT) its comments on a draft master plan on the development of Viet Nam's national airport network to 2030 with a vision to 2050. In particular, Da Nang requested that the Ministry of Transport and consulting units secure the Da Nang International Airport’s current stature as an international airport cum a national gateway in accordance with the Prime Minister's decisions and the provisions of the national 2006 Aviation Law.

Under the Prime Minister’s recent approval for adjustments to the master plan for Da Nang’s major developments by 2030, with a vision to 2045, Da Nang Airport eyes to have an annual capacity of handling 30 million passengers and 200,000 tonnes of cargo.

Under the country's draft master plan, Viet Nam is set to have 26 airports by 2030, including three gateway international airports- Noi Bai in Ha Noi, soon-to-be-developed Long Thanh in Dong Nai Province and Tan Son Nhat in HCM City.

The number could reach 30 by 2050, including five gateway international airports which comprise the three aforementioned trio, and two newcomers - Chu Lai in Quang Nam Province and Cam Ranh in Khanh Hoa Province.

The Da Nang administration criticised that the moving of the Da Nang airport out of the proposed list of Viet Nam’s gateway international airports is not consistent with the 2006 Aviation Law as well as the current operating status of the Da Nang Airport.

Besides, the deep-concerning move goes against the Prime Minister’s recent approval for adjustments to the master plan for Da Nang’s major developments by 2030, with a vision to 2045, and the Politburo-adopted Resolution No 43-NQ/TW regarding “developing Da Nang in a close connection with growth poles, and other major cities in Viet Nam, Southeast Asia, and Asia – Pacific regions”.

Da Nang is one of the five major cities in Viet Nam, and serves as the international gateway of Central Viet Nam and Central Highlands.

Da Nang's development policy to 2030 is to shift the economic structure towards becoming a innovative startup, finance, tourism, high technology and logistics hub of Southeast Asia, promote investment attraction in the aspects of high-tech manufacturing, information technology, supporting industries, logistics, and the import and export of goods by air.

Based on those arguments, it is suggested that the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV) keep the important role of the Da Nang International Airport unchanged in the coming time.

Da Nang Airport plays an irreplaceable strategic role in terms of national security.

In his point of view, Mr Tran Dan, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang Bridge and Road Association, said that Da Nang boasts a favourable geographical position of being at the end point of the East-West Economic Corridor and has a connection with international destinations via roadwats, seaways and airways.

Noticeably, it is a good idea to build up an appropriate and effective development orientation for the Da Nang airport such as the aerotropolis model.

Under the Prime Minister’s recent approval for adjustments to the master plan for Da Nang’s major developments by 2030, with a vision to 2045, the Da Nang airport eyes to have an annual capacity of handling 30 million passengers and 200,000 tonnes of cargo.

Mr Le Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of the Da Nang International Airport affirmed that the venue plays an irreplaceable strategic role in terms of national security. This is a pillar for the operational management of the flight information area (FIR) with the scale of providing services on a large area of nearly 1 million square kilometres.

Along with the Tan Son Nhat airport, Da Nang Airport is the standby airport serving international flights on route A1/P901/A202.

By THANH LAN- Translated by A.T