MPI proposes PM to approve expanded Dien Bien Phu Airport

The MPI has proposed the expansion plan of Dien Bien Phu Airport for approval

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has also proposed the prime minister to assign Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to develop the project.

The expanded airport would have a total investment capital of VND1.547 trillion ($67.26 million). The airport is expected to have an annual capacity of 300,000 passengers and 500 tonnes of cargo and an apron that can accommodate three A320 and A321 aircraft.

The construction is expected to be implemented within 34 months of the project's investment planning being approved.

The MPI also proposed the prime minister to assign Dien Bien People’s Committee to be in charge of land clearance while simultaneously monitoring the construction process.

“The Ministry of Transport would be in charge of co-operating with and guiding ACV in completing the dossier for the pre-feasibility report and exploit the project with maximum efficiency,” the MPI’s proposal read.

Previously, both Vietjet and ACV submitted documents to the MoT and Dien Bien People’s Committee to express interest in developing the project. ACV claims they have arranged sufficient capital to develop comprehensive infrastructure for the project, including a flight and civil aviation area, fully in compliance with the planning of the project.

Meanwhile, Vietjet proposed sourcing over VND1.85 trillion ($80.43 million) from the state budget (41.5 per cent of the capital requirement) and contributing nearly VND2.61 trillion ($113.5 million or 58.5 per cent) from its own equity. Under this arrangement, Dien Bien People’s Committee would be in charge of land clearance and resettlement, as well as constructing the runway. Regarding the terminal segment, Vietjet proposed developing it under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.