The schedule of 12 flights to and from Con Dao airport in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has been adjusted due to a drill held by the Con Dao District’s Military Command near the airport on May 29-30.

According to the Viet Nam Air Services Company (VASCO), 10 flights on the HCM City – Con Dao – HCM City route have new departure times. On the route between Con Dao - Can Tho, the departure times for the flight code 0V8071/8070 is 11.30am, and 3.45pm, while the flight coded 0V8014/8015 between Can Tho and Phu Quoc takes off at 12.55pm and 2.25pm.

VASCO cancelled two flights between HCM City and Rach Gia on May 29 and 30. Passengers on the adjusted flights could be transferred to other flights free of charge on May 31.

Late last year, the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV) approved a plan to upgrade the airport at a total cost of VND5.2 trillion (US$230 million).

By 2020 the airport’s runway would be large enough to receive airplanes such as the Airbus A320. Today, it can only serve smaller ART72 aircraft.

The parking area by that time would have enough space for at least eight Airbus A320s.

A new terminal with a capacity of two million passengers will also be built.

The upgrade and expansion plan is divided into two phases, with the first phase occurring from now to 2020, costing VND4.17 trillion. The second phase from 2020-2030 would cost more than VND1 trillion. — VNS