Can Tho International Airport has received no recognition

DNHN - When international aviation was sluggish to revive, Vietnamese aviation gained impetus and speed following COVID-19. Profit from the potential to use the local market as a stepping stone to fast reopen the post-pandemic skies.

According to Vietnam Airlines figures, the number of passengers travelling through airports reached 40.7 million in the first half of 2022, a 56.8 per cent rise over the same time in 2021. International tourists were 1.8 million, while domestic visitors totalled 38.9 million, representing a 52.6 per cent increase. 

Domestic routes are becoming more crowded
Domestic routes are becoming more crowded.

The aviation industry is making a stunning comeback, with significant growth momentum, which is a positive indicator of the economy's recovery. This is what the aviation industry has been hoping for and dreaming about for more than two years, since the Covid-19 outbreak. However, growing aircraft delays and cancellations are generating a lot of dissatisfaction for travellers, particularly at Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, and Da Nang airports. 

Delays at the airport have resulted in long lines across the facility
Delays at the airport have resulted in long lines across the facility. 
Illustration
It's so hard to wait to fly!

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr Ngo Tri Long, an economic expert, because the plane is the fastest mode of transportation, a delay of only a few minutes has resulted in significant financial and time losses. Especially in this day and age when everything is so pricey.

Knowing that there is a paradox: while travellers at other airports must wait due to delayed planes for different reasons, Can Tho International Airport has an empty path. Making approximately one hundred billion dongs in repairs is becoming a waste of money.

Can Tho International Airport's future is uncertain

The Trung Luong Expressway was just opened to traffic, although it was plagued by traffic congestion and people. Few would anticipate from the city. It might take up to 9 hours to get from Ho Chi Minh City to An Giang, Dong Thap.

Tra Noc Airport, established in the 1960s with a runway of 1800m x 30m, is Can Tho Airport's forerunner. Can Tho airport was directly administered by the Ministry of Defense once the South was entirely freed. From 1977 to 1978, this airport was mostly used for short-distance flights between Tan Son Nhat and Can Tho. Civil aviation operations at Can Tho were discontinued in mid-1978 until 30/03 April 1993, due to a low number of passengers. 

Can Tho International Airport could not avoid the desolate, gloomy environment in the late afternoon
Can Tho International Airport could not avoid the desolate, gloomy environment in the late afternoon.

The project to restore and modernise Can Tho International Airport began in 2005 and was divided into two phases, with a total size of 85.04 acres and a passenger housing system with a capacity of 2 million people. Since 2008, total investment capital of 370 billion VND has been completed and put to use.

Phase 2 entails extending take-off and landing runways to 3,000m, constructing 19,000m2 domestic and international passenger terminals, cargo terminals, other auxiliary technical items, and investment capital. constructed in 2010 for less than 1,000 billion VND Can Tho International Airport opened for business on December 18, 2010. 

Illustration
Illustration.

However, from its inception and usage, Can Tho International Airport has only served a few internal flights such as Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi - Can Tho, and later Can Tho - Thanh Hoa, Phu Quoc, and so on, although the frequency is low. In terms of international flights, on the occasion of the New Year, a few flights from Taipei and Kaohsiung to Vietnam Airlines are chartered by Vietnam Airlines. Meanwhile, no foreign airlines have opened international services.

Recently, the CEO of a significant corporation in this country was pushing, "Can Tho International Airport is a squander due to inadequate service. Not only are no international routes available, but internal routes are also limited. Passengers from the West must travel to Ho Chi Minh City to fly to other destinations, particularly international flights. I believe that the Ministry of Transport should step in sooner rather than later to avoid the existing state of apathy."

The narrative of Can Tho World Airport being built and upgraded to international standards but serving just a few domestic flights, combined with a trillion dong of money that has not been well marketed, is worth considering./. 

Van Khanh

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