Da Nang has sought permission to upgrade and extend several other parts of the nation's third largest airport for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision towards 2050.

In a proposal sent to the Ministry of Transport on November 16, 2022, the city said it will raise annual capacity of the Da Nang International Airport to 25 million passengers by 2030, and 30 million by 2050.

A corner of the domestic passenger terminal at Da Nang International Airport. Photo: THANH LAN

Risks of overloading

Under the Da Nang International Airport planning approved in Decision No. 3066/QD-BGTVT dated August 26, 2015 by the Ministry of Transport, in 2020 the airport reached an annual capacity of handling.

In recent years, Da Nang International Airport has focused on investing and upgrading technical infrastructure and services, including apron, passenger terminals and external traffic systems in a bid to improve quality of its services.

However, with the continuous growth during the 2010-2019 period, the airport was overloaded and the quality of exploitation services decreased.

Between 2012 and 2019, the growth rate of air passengers handled through thr airport reached more than 23% per year. The number of international air passengers increased to 7,146,527 in 2019 from only 225,493 in 2012. The growth rate of international arrivals during the 2012-2018 period was more than 71.7%. Currently, the volume of air passengers and goods through Da Nang International Airport has exceeded the forecast and tends to continue to increase rapidly.

In order to meet the city’s socio-economic development needs, the municipal authorities need restructure Da Nang International Airport soon because it is predicted to face serious overloading over the next few years.

Specifically, the master plan must identify some detailed development targets, including increasing the port's handling capacity to 25-30 million passengers per year, exploiting modern civil and military aircrafts, ensuring optimization, modernity and sustainability, complying with current regulations and standards and regulations, and meeting future forecast needs.

A corner of Da Nang International Airport. Photo: THANH LAN

Towards handling of 30 million passengers/year

With an important role and position in the region, Da Nang International Airport sets targets of raising its annual capacity of handling 25-30 million passengers, expanding T1 terminal to the southeast, and building a new domestic terminal T3 with a capacity of 15 million passengers/year by 2030.

The purpose of the airport expansion is to help Da Nang International Airport become one of the country’s major international airports and Asia’s attractive airports and destinations.

During the consultation process to prepare a draft adjustment plan for the Da Nang International Airport expansion, engineer Tran Dan, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang Bridge and Road Science and Technology Association, highlighted the necessity for the expansion of Da Nang International Airport in the context of the rapid development of the aviation industry as well as the growing number of domestic and foreign tourists to the city.

The target of the Adjustment Plan of Da Nang International Airport for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision towards 2050, is to reach the level 4E international airport according to the regulations of ICAO, International Civil Aviation Organisation, and the military airport level I.

The annual passenger transport volume will reach 25 million and 30 million by 2025 and 2030 respectively. The freight output will hit 200,000 tonnes per year.

There will be 92 aircraft parking positions at the Da Nang International Airport for aircrafts with code E or lower such as B747, B777, B787, A320, A321, A350 and equivalent, and reserve for aircraft code F B747-8,  and Class I military aircraft.

To realise the aforementioned goals, Da Nang International Airport needs to build a new runway 35L/17R with dimensions of 3,190 x 45m, and at the same time expand the aircraft parking lots.

As for the passenger terminal, in the 2021-2030 period, the current T2 terminal for international operation will remain unchanged. The T1 terminal to the southeast of the airport will be expanded. The 2 terminals will be connected by a 170m long bridge.

After 2030, with an eye towards 2050, work will start on building a new 2-storey domestic terminal T3 to the southeast of the airport, with a capacity of 15 million passengers/year, with a station construction area of nearly 9,500 m2, and renovating terminal T1 in combination with terminal T2 for international operations.

As for the cargo terminal, the eastern cargo terminal, and a new western cargo terminal in combination with logistics, will be constructed.

The city estimates the entire expansion project to cost VND31 trillion.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by M.DUNG