Gia Bình International Airport participates in Routes World 2026 in Germany from October 21-23. — Photo baochinhphu.vn

HÀ NỘI — Gia Bình International Airport is holding more than 30 meetings with international airlines and industry partners at Routes World 2026 in Germany from October 21-23 to seek cooperation to develop future air routes.

The meetings with airlines from Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East, alongside with other airports and tourism development partners will focus on the project's development plans, airlines' priorities and potential cooperation in route networks, passenger connectivity and air cargo services.

Participation in Routes World, an annual route development forum, is intended to help Gia Bình establish relationships with international carriers and strategic partners before the airport becomes operational and position it to participate in the development of future regional and international air links.

Gia Bình International Airport estimates that more than 30 per cent of potential international passenger demand in northern Việt Nam, equivalent to around 4-5 million passenger trips annually, is not currently served by direct flights.

The airport is seeking to engage airlines early through exchanges of market data, route planning and operational strategies, with cooperation tailored to the needs and business models of different carriers.

The airport is located within the Hà Nội - Bắc Ninh - Hải Phòng growth triangle, which is home to high-tech manufacturing clusters and international investment flows.

Within a radius of around three hours' flight time, it could access a market of approximately 1.3 billion people.

Gia Bình plans to develop a route network combining domestic, regional and long-haul services.

For long-haul airlines and full-service carriers, the project is studying a programme for pioneer airline partners that could include support mechanisms.

Cooperation with low-cost carriers would focus on efficient aircraft turnaround and competitive operating costs, while cargo operators and logistics companies would be targeted for partnerships involving specialised cargo infrastructure and connections to northern Việt Nam's high-tech manufacturing and export hubs.

Gia Bình International Airport is envisioned to become an international aviation gateway for northern Việt Nam, handling passenger and cargo traffic while developing aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the Asia-Pacific region.

The project aims to expand international connectivity and create opportunities for airlines, logistics businesses and trading partners to contribute to regional commerce and economic growth.

Its development strategy extends beyond building a new airport to establishing a "Next-Generation Aviation Economic Hub 2.0", a model intended to use technology to deliver more personalised passenger experiences, expand commercial opportunities and support community development within a modern, connected urban area.

Gia Bình International Airport, with a total investment of around VNĐ196.4 billion (US$8 billion), is being developed by Masterise Aviation Infrastructure (MAI), a member of Masterise Group.

It is among 7 new airports in Việt Nam expected to go into operation by 2030, besides Long Thành, Quảng Trị, Phan Thiết, Sa Pa, Thổ Chu, and Thành Sơn. — VNS