Yay?
VnExpress reports that a major upgrade for Con Dao Airport has been approved by the Ministry of Transport.
Under the plan, the small airport's capacity will increase from 400,000 passengers per year to 2 million people annually by 2030. This will entail widening the current runway from 30 to 45 meters, allowing for jet aircraft such as the A319neo and A320neo to land at the facility, which can currently only handle turboprop planes.
Meanwhile, several taxiways will be built to connect with the expanded runway, along with a new apron which will accommodate eight aircraft, a new air traffic control tower and new beacon and lighting systems.
Currently, Con Dao Airport does not operate at night since there is no runway lighting system.
The aerodrome was built by the French during the colonial area and upgraded in 2003 for regular commercial use.
According to the news source, in 2019, 400,000 tourists visited Con Dao, up by 37% from 2018. Even in 2020, amid the pandemic, the airport handled 4.1% more passengers than the previous year - 447,750 in total. The expansion is expected to facilitate tourism growth in the archipelago, which is also home to key biodiversity and sea turtle nesting sites.
[Top photo via Nguoi Lao Dong.]
