Chu Lai Airport

Chu Lai Airport (IATA: VCL, ICAO: VVCA) (Vietnamese: Sân bay 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.

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

Sân bay Chu Lai
Chu Lai Airport arrival hall
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorMiddle Airports Corporation
ServesTam Kỳ, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
LocationNúi Thành District
Coordinates15°24′22″N 108°42′20″E
Websitevietnamairport.vn/chulaiairport/
Map
VCL is located in Vietnam
VCL
VCL
Location of airport in Vietnam
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
14/32 3,050 10,000 Concrete
Statistics (2015)
Passengers553,285

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 Airport is the largest airfield in Vietnam in terms of area, covering 30 km2. The runway is 3050 m long.[1]

To facilitate the travel arrangement to two major towns in the neighborhoods, free shuttle bus services[2] are provided from and to the airport for Tam Kỳ city and Quảng Ngãi 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 medium 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.[3]

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.[4]

inside the terminal

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Bamboo Airways Hanoi[5]
Pacific Airlines Ho Chi Minh City[6]
VietJet Air Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City[7]
Vietnam Airlines Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City

References
  1. "Information about Chu Lai Airport (Vietnamese)". Archived from the original on 2019-12-22. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
  2. "Shuttle Bus services (Vietnamese)".
  3. "Quảng Nam: Sân bay Chu Lai sẽ được nâng cấp thành sân bay quốc tế".
  4. "Lập trường đào tạo 300 phi công/năm tại sân bay Chu Lai".
  5. "Bamboo Airways khai thác đường bay mới Hà Nội – Chu Lai chỉ từ 199.000 VNĐ".
  6. "Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – April 16". Tuoi Tre News. 14 January 2014.
  7. "Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – April 16". Tuoi Tre News. 14 January 2014.
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