Chu Lai International Airport

For the military use of the facility prior to April 1975, see Chu Lai Air Base

Chu Lai Airport Sân bay Chu Lai
IATA: VCL – ICAO: VVCA
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Middle Airports Corporation
Serves	Tam Kỳ, Vietnam
Location	Núi Thành District
Hub for	VASCO Vietnam Airlines
Coordinates	15°24′22″N 108°42′20″E / 15.40611°N 108.70556°E / 15.40611; 108.70556Coordinates: 15°24′22″N 108°42′20″E / 15.40611°N 108.70556°E / 15.40611; 108.70556
Website	tsnairport.hochiminhcity.gov.vn
Map
VCL Location of airport in Vietnam
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 14/32 3,050 10,000 Concrete
Statistics (2015)
Passengers 154.549 [1]

Chu Lai International Airport (IATA: VCL) (Vietnamese: Sân bay Quốc tế Chu Lai) is an airport in Chu Lai, Vietnam. It is near Tam Kỳ city, the largest city in Quảng Nam Province. The airport is located in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone, Núi Thành District.

The airfield was originally established in the Vietnam War, as Chu Lai Air Base, by the United States Marines. The airport was nearly abandoned after the fall of Saigon, and only used irregularly for military flights. On March 22, 2004, the construction of the terminal began and on March 22, 2005, the first commercial flight from Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport landed here.

As of 2008, Chu Lai International Airport is the largest airfield in Vietnam in terms of area, covering 30 km². The runway is 3050 m long.^[2]

To facilitate the travel arrangement to two major towns in the neighborhoods, free shuttle bus services^[3] are provided from and to the airport for Tam Ky city and Quang Ngai city.

Renovation

The government of Vietnam has approved an investment plan for this airport. According to this plan, Chu Lai airport will receive nearly VND 11,470 billion (nearly $700 million)in investment for enlarging its capacity to 25 landing places by 2015 and 46 by 2025. The project will include renovation and new infrastructure, including two runways, 3,800m and 4,000m long, and 60 meters wide each, six parking lots and two transit stations. By 2010, existing runways and parking lots will be upgraded. The airport will also receive a new signal light system and control station for average sized aircraft, such as Boeing 767s and Airbus A320s. Vietnamese officials hope the airport will be able to handle 4 million passengers by completion in 2025. The airport is projected to become an air cargo transport hub, with 5 million metric tons of cargo per year.^[4]

inside the terminal

In November 2015, a collaboration between Vietnam and New Zealand governments has initiated a project to establish a pilot training school in the Chu Lai Airport. This is projected to train 300 pilots a year in 2020.^[5]

inside the terminal

Airlines and destinations

References

1. ↑ "Kết quả sản xuất kinh doanh của ACV: Năm 2015 sản lượng hành khách thông qua cảng đạt trên 63 triệu lượt, tăng 24,2% so với năm 2014". ACV. 2016-01-19. 
2. ↑ "Information about Chu Lai Airport (Vietnamese)". 
3. ↑ "Shuttle Bus services (Vietnamese)". 
4. ↑ "Quảng Nam: Sân bay Chu Lai sẽ được nâng cấp thành sân bay quốc tế". 
5. ↑ "Lập trường đào tạo 300 phi công/năm tại sân bay Chu Lai". 
6. ↑ "Jetstar Pacific Adds New Domestic Routes from June 2016". airlineroute. Retrieved 2 May 2016. 
7. ↑ "Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – April 16". Tuoi Tre News. 
8. ↑ "Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – April 16". Tuoi Tre News.