Central Thua Thien-Hue Province plans to expand the Phu Bai International Airport to accommodate 3 to 3.5 million passengers by 2020 and up to 7 million per year by 2025.

The province will expand the airport’s terminal, taxiway, runway and apron at an investment of VND5.56 trillion (US$245 million).

The Phu Bai Airport is located on National Highway 1A in Huong Thuy Town. It plays an important role in the economic, cultural, social and defence strategy of Thua Thien-Hue and the northern-central region.

It is also crucial to promoting tourism in Hue City and the entire central region.

This year, the airport and the People’s Committee of Huong Thuy Town have co-ordinated in marking landmarks around the airport while reviewing the land area for the airport’s expansion.

Initially, the airport will be extended to Phu Bai, Thuy Tan and Thuy Phu communes of Huong Thuy Town. The area needing clearance for the project is 153.17ha, including 24.22ha in Phu Bai, 20.79ha in Thuy Phu and 108.16ha in Thuy Tan.

A total of 296 households will need to be relocated. Currently, the Phu Bai Airport receives an average of 1.5 million passengers per year and is often overloaded. — VNS