HÀ NỘI — The aviation market in Việt Nam is targeted to be among ASEAN’s top four in terms of shipping volume by 2030.

The country plans to operate 28 airports, including 15 domestic airports and 13 international airports by 2030. Five major airports, inculding Nội Bài, Đà Nẵng, Cam Ranh, Tân Sơn Nhất and Long Thành, will function as international gateways.

Passenger volume is set to increase by 8 per cent, while the transportation of goods will increase by 12 per cent each year between 2020 and 2030.

The aviation market is initially expected to transport some 131 million passengers and 2.2 million tonnes of goods every year by 2020.

The goals follow the government’s Decision No. 236/QĐ-TTg, recently signed by Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng, with the aim to adjust the planning on the national aviation transport development by 2020, with a vision towards 2030.

Under the decision, the national aviation sector will focus on upgrading 21 current airports by 2020 and will construct new domestic airports at Vân Đồn, Phan Thiết and Sa Pa as well as the first phase of Long Thành International Airport by 2020.

Three aviation logistics centres serving Nội Bài International Airport, Đà Nẵng International Airport and Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport are scheduled to be improved by 2020.

The decision also targets national carrier Vietnam Airlines to be one of the leading carriers of ASEAN by 2030.

The aviation sector plans to increase flights, especially to regions of northeast Asia (Japan, South Korea and China), southeast Asia (Cambodia, Singapore, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines), south Asia, south Pacific and Middle East as well as introduce intercontinental flights to France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, the United States and other countries in Europe by 2020.

By 2030, the aviation sector will run inter-continental flights connecting Việt Nam with new destinations in North America, South America and Africa. — VNS