Clearing obstacles for T2 terminal project to meet schedule

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the T2 terminal project on August 19, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the investor, pledged to complete the project within 18 months from the date of full site handover.

The T2 terminal will cover an area of about 23,200 m2, with a designed capacity of 5 million passengers/ year (equivalent to 1,500 passengers/ peak hour), and with the option to expand capacity to 10 million passengers annually.

The investment in the T2 terminal at Cat Bi International Airport has been consistently directed and urged by the city leaders in recent years. Accelerating the construction of the new T2 terminal will not only ease the current congestion at the T1 terminal but also meet the growing demand for air travel and transport, particularly as Hai Phong deepens its international integration.

With a total investment of 2.6898 trillion VND, the T2 passenger terminal is designed to be modern, world-class, and compliant with international standards. Once completed and put into operation, Cat Bi International Airport will become one of the few airports in Vietnam to have separate domestic and international terminals.

Aviation infrastructure is increasingly seen as a key driver of economic growth, foreign investment attraction, and as a “gateway” connecting Hai Phong with other provinces and international destinations. This explains why the Ministry of Construction and ACV have been paying close attention to upgrading and expanding Cat Bi International Airport.

Last May, ACV broke ground on the “Apron Expansion Project at Cat Bi International Airport - Phase 2,” with a total investment of 1.151 trillion VND.

The project is divided into two phases, with the first phase including five Code C aircraft stands (or the equivalent of one Code E and three Code C stands). Construction is scheduled for 12 months from groundbreaking.

Earlier, in November 2024, ACV also launched construction of a cargo terminal at Cat Bi International Airport, with a capacity of 100,000 tons of cargo/ year, expandable to 250,000 tons, expected to be operational in January 2026.

This growing “ecosystem” of infrastructure at Cat Bi International Airport, including runways, aprons, cargo terminal, etc., is being developed in a synchronized and modern manner, with most components expected to be completed and operational in 2026.

However, these projects will only fully realize their investment efficiency once the T2 terminal is operational. Therefore, urgent action is required to resolve bottlenecks in site clearance for the T2 project, calling for the decisive involvement of the city’s departments and sectors, and Hai An district authorities.

Delays in the project will not only waste funds but also result in lost opportunities for development, tourist attraction, and, most importantly, foreign investors’ confidence in the investment environment of Hai Phong - a city now on the runway to becoming an international metropolis.

PHAM CUONG

PHAM CUONG