Long Thanh airport to open on 24 December 2026 at 366 weekly flights

Long Thanh International Airport will begin commercial operations at midnight on 24 December 2026, according to a notice the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) sent to the Dong Nai city People's Committee.

The date is the firmest commitment yet on a launch that Vietnam has pursued for more than a decade to relieve congestion at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport. ACV has asked city authorities to direct relevant agencies to coordinate on preparations and ensure a smooth, safe opening.

What does the opening change for airlines?

In its initial phase, the airport is expected to handle up to 366 flights per week: 322 domestic services and 44 international services. Domestic carriers will phase in operations.

• Vietnam Airlines is expected to operate the Long Thanh–Hanoi route and several international services.
• Vietjet Air plans domestic routes linking Long Thanh with major economic and tourism centres across Vietnam.
• Several international airlines have expressed interest in operating at Long Thanh, ACV said.

Flight allocations and operational plans are being developed through coordination among management agencies, airport operators and airlines. The process accounts for slot coordination parameters and schedules at both Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat, while remaining compliant with relevant regulations, international air service agreements and actual operating conditions.

How ready is the construction?

ACV said Component Project 3, the package covering essential airport facilities, is about 86% complete. Four of its 16 main bidding packages are finished. The remaining 12 are being fast-tracked for completion this December, and ACV expects most to meet the deadline.

For the first commercial flight, core facilities must be completed and thoroughly tested. The list includes:

• the passenger terminal;
• the runway and apron;
• connecting transport;
• power and water systems;
• information technology;
• baggage handling; and
• safety systems.

What about ground access?

Surface connectivity is advancing alongside the terminal works. Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) has invested in a 57.8-kilometre expressway running through Long An province, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai. Its endpoint connects with National Highway 51 and the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway, roughly 10 km from Long Thanh.

That link matters for network economics: an airport of this scale succeeds only if transfer times from Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding industrial belt stay competitive with Tan Son Nhat.

Certification and testing remain the gating items

The 24 December 2026 date rests on testing of systems that have not yet been handed over. Twelve of 16 main construction packages remain open, and ACV's own language — "most are expected to meet the deadline" — signals schedule risk in the final months.

Slot coordination between Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat will also determine how quickly carriers can shift capacity. The 44 weekly international services at launch represent a modest entry point for a facility designed as a long-haul hub, leaving the pace of foreign-carrier commitment as the key variable to watch through 2027.