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The Government will set aside around VND5 trillion for the upgrade of Cat Bi Airport in the northern port city of Haiphong into an international airport which is set for commencement next year.
Le Khac Nam, vice chairman of Haiphong City, said that the Government has approved to make Cat Bi a back-up airport for Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. “It is estimated that the airport upgrade will begin next year,” Nam said at a meeting within the framework of the International Travel Expo HCMC 2012.
Currently, Cat Bi Airport services fi ve HCMC-Haiphong fl ights and one Danang-Haiphong flight everyday.
Haiphong City is now working with Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Airlines to increase the flight frequency to this northern port city during the National Tourism Year 2013 of the Red River and Haiphong.
The National Tourism Year 2013 themed Red River Civilization will open next January in Haiphong City, and tourism activities will take place in ten northern provinces and cities throughout the year with 67 events.
Th e city has also requested some international organizations and its ten sister cities such as Brest in France, Kitakyushu in Japan, Queensland in Australia, Vladivostok in Russia and Incheon in South Korea to join the tourism year.
Early this month, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai signed a decision approving the adjusted zoning plan for Cat Bi Airport which enables the airport to handle more passengers and cargo as well as more aircraft compared to its capacity envisaged in the previous plan.
Under the new zoning plan, a new terminal will be built at the airport to handle 4-5 million passengers and 20,000 tons of cargo per year until 2015. By 2025, the annual handling capacity of Cat Bi Airport will be eight million passengers and up to 250,000 tons of cargo.
After the new terminal at Cat Bi is built, the existing one will be used for low-cost carriers or cargo among other purposes. Besides, a new terminal for 100,000-250,000 tons of cargo will be considered by 2025, depending on the market demand.
Cat Bi Airport will have a second runway of 3,050 meters in length and 45 meters in width for bigger aircraft such as Boeing B747, Boeing B777 and Airbus A321 in 2015.
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