In a report submitted to authorities, ACV said it was working with contractors to complete construction and equipment installation by September 2026, in line with the target to open the airport later that year.

The proposed operating plan, which was revised following consultations with the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam and airlines, aimed to ensure a smooth transition while maintaining aviation safety and minimising disruption to airlines and passengers, ACV said.

During the initial phase, from December 1, 2026 through the end of the 2026 winter flight schedule on March 27, 2027, airlines would be encouraged to operate international passenger and cargo services from Long Thanh, while Tan Son Nhat would continue handling existing international routes except those transferred to the new airport. No new international routes would be approved for Tan Son Nhat during the transition, ACV said.

Vietnam Airlines has proposed operating international services from Long Thanh to Beijing, Hong Kong (China), Guangzhou and Manila, along with domestic flights to Hanoi. Vietjet has registered services from Long Thanh to Hanoi, Hai Phong, Vinh and Thanh Hoa.

From March 27 to October 30, ACV proposed transferring all long-haul international passenger and cargo flights to Long Thanh, including services to Europe, the Americas, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia. Tan Son Nhat would continue serving routes to Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia.

Under the proposed plan, Long Thanh would handle nearly all international flights from October 30, 2027, to March 25, 2028, while Vietnamese carriers would continue operating regular international services on routes of less than 1,000 km from Tan Son Nhat.

Airline incentives outlined 

ACV said it had suggested a package of incentives to encourage airlines to operate at Long Thành, including discounts of 20% to 50% on aviation service charges during the 2026-2027 period, in addition to preferential pricing under regulations issued by the Ministry of Construction.

The company also called on the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam to establish a framework for allocating take-off and landing slots and allow Vietnamese airlines relocating services to Long Thanh to retain their historical slots at Tan Son Nhat. It also proposed giving priority to airlines seeking to launch services earlier than scheduled and to new routes or additional frequencies at Long Thanh once Tan Son Nhat reaches capacity.

ACV urged the Ministry of Construction to approve passenger service charges at Long Thanh and issue pricing guidelines for specialised aviation services to help airlines finalise operating plans and communicate them to customers.

The company also recommended that the Government accelerate transport infrastructure projects linking Long Thanh with HCM City and neighbouring provinces, including the expansion of the HCM City-Long Thanh Expressway, completion of the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway, Ring Road 3, the An Phu interchange and key bridge projects, to support the airport's operations after its opening.

Major works at Long Thanh International Airport gather pace towards completion

Construction of several key components of Long Thanh International Airport is entering its final stages as contractors accelerate progress to meet the project's completion schedule, according to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV).