Phú Quốc International Airport. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Phú Quốc International Airport in the Mekong Delta province of Kiên Giang will receive investment so that it can serve up to ten million passengers a year, as the island resort has become an increasingly popular destination for both domestic and foreign visitors.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAAV), currently, there are six domestic and 10 foreign airlines operating regular flights to and from Phú Quốc airport.

Its passenger throughput reached 3.7 million in 2019, but fell to 3.23 million in 2020 and about 1.6 million in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, Deputy Minister of Transport Lê Anh Tuấn signed a document sent to the CAAV requesting to consider land and propose investment forms to expand the airport.

Accordingly, the ministry asked the CAAV to actively coordinate with relevant agencies and units, including the Việt Nam Air Traffic Management Corporation and the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, to seek investment.

The ministry’s requirements came after Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s working session with provincial leaders, during which he directed the Ministry of Transport to coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the People's Committee of Kiên Giang Province in studying suitable investment forms to expand Phú Quốc airport, to increase its total capacity to ten million passengers a year by 2030.

Regarding investors interested in the project, the Imex Pan Pacific Group (IPPG) recently proposed that the transport ministry allow it to participate in the Phú Quốc International Airport expansion project.

IPPG wants to invest in the airport’s international terminal, cargo terminal, warehouse, and runway. — VNS