The Van Don International Airport in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh is scheduled to receive its first flight in December this year, according to investor Sun Group.

The group said it would submit a plan outlining the airport’s opening schedule to the Prime Minister for approval in July.

Construction on the airport started in 2015 with a total investment of VND7.5 trillion (US$330 million). It is the first airport in the country built with capital mobilised by local authorities.

Under Decision No. 497/QD-BGTVT by the Ministry of Transport dated March 15, 2018, Van Don will be an international airport, serving both civilian and military flights.

By 2020, it will house a level-4E airport and a level-II military airport, as well as a 3.6km-long runway, capable of serving Boeing 777, 787, 747-400, Airbus A350, and other similar aircraft.

The airport will have an annual capacity of between two millions and 2.5 millions passengers by 2020, which will increase to five millions by 2030.

Set to cover more than 326ha by 2020, it will have support facilities, a two-module terminal, and functional areas. A cargo terminal is expected to be built by 2030 with a capacity of at least 51,000 tonnes.

It is hoped that Van Don Airport will boost tourism in Quang Ninh, home to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage site.

The airport is also expected to boost local development, as Van Don District has been designated as one of the first three special administrative-economic units in Viet Nam.

In 2017, Quang Ninh saw 9.87 million tourist arrivals, including 4.28 million foreigners, up 18 per cent and 23 per cent year on year, respectively.

The locality, which serves as host for National Tourism Year 2018, hopes to welcome 12 million visitors, including five million foreigners, and earn VND22 trillion this year. — VNS