The Aviation Corporation of Viet Nam (ACV) and local authorities in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue have agreed to invest US$95 million for the expansion and upgrade of Phu Bai Airport.

The two parties agreed in a meeting on Tuesday that the investment would support a construction project of a new terminal and expanding the aircraft’s parking space.

The new terminal, the airport’s second, will be constructed on a total area of 16,500sq.m. It will have two levels to facilitate arrivals and departures. The terminal will include a parking lot and a green park.

The expanded aircraft parking yard will accommodate eight planes at the same time.

ACV will put forward the total cost of VND2.2 trillion ($94 million) while local authorities will provide clear land for construction.

ACV official Le Xuan Tung said the process of terminal design and contractor selection is ongoing for work to commence by the second quarter of 2019.

According to Phan Ngoc Tho, the provincial People’s Committee chairman, site clearance begins next month and clear land will be ready for the work in the first quarter of next year.

Construction work is expected to last 18 months.

Once completed, the expanded Phu Bai Airport will accommodate five million passengers a year, one fourth of which foreign visitors.

The airport is the only airline gateway for locals and visitors from Hue to reach Ha Noi, HCM City and Da Lat on daily flights operated by the national carrier Vietnam Airlines and budget carriers Jetstar Pacific and VietJetAir. — VNS