Vietnam Airlines planes parked at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City. A shortage of infrastructure is the biggest challenge to the aviation sector. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung

Lai Xuan Thanh, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV), said airports nationwide are capable of accommodating a total of 75 million passengers annually.

In the past four months, 63 million had already been accommodated, adding more pressure on the country's aviation infrastructure, he said.

During the reviewed period, the sector grew by nearly 25 per cent, ranking fifth in Southeast Asia, Thanh noted.

He said the speedy development has challenged domestic airlines and aviation businesses.

The CAAV has submitted plans to upgrade aviation infrastructure, ensure safety for flights and create the best possible conditions for airlines.

The Ministry of Transport plans to expand the Tan Son Nhat International Airport and raise its capacity to 40 million passengers per year, Thanh said, expressing his worry that the number was still moderate compared with the growth rate.

His views were shared by Vu Pham Nguyen An, deputy director of the Airport Operation Department under the Airports Corporation of Viet Nam (ACV), who said most airports, excluding the Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat and Da Nang international airports, are incurring losses.

The ACV is facing financial difficulties as it has been in charge of all the operation costs of the failed airports, he said. An suggested the air carriers use auxiliary ports in a bid to ease the load at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Duong Tri Thanh, deputy general director of Vietnam Airlines, proposed the CAAV assign airlines specific areas in the airports to ensure equality and healthy competition.

Luong The Phuc, deputy general director of Vietjet, suggested the CAAV create conditions for air carriers to upgrade aviation infrastructure and co-ordinate with each other during programmes to improve flight management. — VNS