HÀ NỘI — The Vietnam Airlines Corporation plans to build a logistics centre in the southern city of Cần Thơ this year, said Deputy General Director Trịnh Hồng Quang at a meeting with local leaders on Friday.

The 30ha centre will be built next to Cần Thơ International Airport to meet the increasing demand of goods transportation by international and domestic airlines, with a capacity of transporting at least 600,000 tonnes of goods per year.

Along with the construction of Cần Thơ logistics centre, Quang said the corporation will open new routes from the city to other destinations in Việt Nam and abroad.

He said the corporation opened three logistics centres at Nội Bài, Tân Sơn Nhất and Đà Nẵng international airports, however expanding these centres was difficult due to a lack of land.

According to General Director of Tân Sơn Nhất Cargo Service Joint Stock Company Nguyễn Cao Cường, cargo throughput at Cần Thơ International Airport is currently 4,200 tonnes per year. Meanwhile, the output of agricultural and fishery products and other products of Cần Thơ through Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport is 150 tonnes per day.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of municipal People’s Committee Đào Anh Dũng said the city was ready to create good conditions for Vietnam Airlines to build a logistics hub.

He expected the corporation to work with Cần Thơ City to complete the procedures soon to receive an investment licence in August, when the city will host an investment promotion conference. — VNS