Despite many difficulties, the aviation industry still recorded positive growth in 2024 and the first two months of 2025. To meet the increasing transportation demand, the Government has approved investment in upgrading airports in 2025.
Demand increased by 8%
According to Vietnam Industry Research and Consulting JSC, the Vietnamese aviation industry had a booming year in 2024 with business results beyond expectations, despite difficulties from many causes.
In 2024, the total passenger volume of Vietnamese airlines reached 53.3 million passengers, a slight decrease of 4.5% compared to 2023. Vietnamese airlines conducted 306,000 flights (down 11% compared to 2023), corresponding to 674,000 flight hours (down 8% compared to 2023).
However, the number of international passengers grew by an impressive 18.5% compared to the same period last year. This is a positive signal showing the strong recovery of the international tourism and aviation industry.
Besides, cargo transport output also witnessed remarkable growth with 445.7 thousand tons, up 35.7% compared to 2023.
In particular, in 2024, Vietnam Airlines is expected to achieve revenue of over VND 114,700 billion and pre-tax profit of over VND 7,300 billion, the highest ever. Vietjet will achieve revenue of over VND 34,000 billion, up 15% and profit of VND 1,117 billion, up 8 times compared to the same period in 2023.
Entering 2025, according to a representative of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, during the peak period of the Lunar New Year (from January 14 to February 12), air transport operations had impressive growth results compared to the same period in previous years with high growth in both the number of flights and passenger and cargo transport output.
The total air transport market will reach approximately 7.3 million passengers, up 11.7% over the same period in 2024. Of which, international passengers will reach 4 million, up 16.3%; domestic passengers will reach 3.3 million, up 6.6% over the same period in 2024, and cargo output will reach 96 thousand tons, up 9.4% over the same period in 2024.
Vietnamese airlines transported more than 4.8 million passengers, up 5.6%; 34 thousand tons of cargo, up 9.8% over the same period in 2024. Of which, international transport reached more than 1.5 million passengers and more than 15.4 thousand tons of cargo, up 3.4% in passengers and 8.2% in cargo over the same period in 2024. Domestic transport reached more than 3.3 million passengers and 18.5 thousand tons of cargo, up 6.6% in passengers and 11.2% in cargo over the same period in 2024.
In February 2025 alone, the total passenger market reached 7.3 million passengers, an increase of 12.4% over the same period in 2024. Of which, international passengers increased by 22%, reaching 4.2 million passengers and domestic passengers increased by 1.6%, reaching 3.1 million passengers.
The total market volume of goods reached 110.8 thousand tons, up 39% compared to February 2024. Of which, domestic goods reached 22.4 thousand tons, international goods reached 88.4 thousand tons, up 29.2% and 41.7% respectively compared to the same period in 2024.
A representative of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said that after the impressive results just achieved, the aviation industry continues to plan to serve the April 30 - May 1, 2025 holiday, the 2025 Summer peak and the National Day holiday on September 2, 2025 with a forecast of increased demand for air transport. The number of air passengers in 2025 will increase by about 8% compared to 2024.
Master of Economic Management Hoang Thi Thu Phuong assessed that despite facing many difficulties, the aviation industry has recorded a positive growth in 2024 and the first two months of 2025. In the context that 2025 is a year of many major events in the country, the demand of domestic and international passengers continues to increase, upgrading and investing in airports is necessary to promote transport productivity, further improve the quality of infrastructure, contributing to ensuring absolute security and safety in aviation operations.
Investing in and upgrading 5 airports
To meet the increasing transportation demand in the coming time, in addition to the aviation industry closely monitoring the management of service provision, the Government has also approved investment and upgrading of a series of airports in 2025, including: Cat Bi, Vinh, Dong Hoi, Ca Mau and Phu Quoc.
Accordingly, Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) will implement three projects to renovate the terminal, expand the parking lot and repair the runway at Vinh Airport with a total investment of nearly VND1,000 billion.
The project to expand and renovate the aircraft parking lot will ensure the exploitation of 9 parking positions for code C aircraft. The existing T1 passenger terminal will be renovated and expanded with a total investment of 68 billion VND to meet the exploitation capacity of 3 - 3.5 million passengers per year by 2030. The project is expected to start before April 30. The project to repair the existing runway, 2,400m long, 45m wide, and a system of 2 taxiways is expected to start in June.
At Dong Hoi Airport, the T2 Terminal project is expected to start construction on April 30 with international standards, helping to increase capacity to 3 million passengers/year. Along with that, the aircraft parking expansion project will add 4 parking positions, bringing the total to 8 and expanding by more than 15 hectares.
ACV is expected to start construction of the T2 passenger terminal at Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong City in June with a capacity of 5 million passengers per year. Once completed, T2 will be used as a domestic terminal, while the current T1 terminal will be converted into an international terminal. ACV is also building a new cargo terminal and expanding the parking lot at Cat Bi Airport to improve its operational capacity and meet the growing demand for cargo transportation.
In 2025, Ca Mau Airport will also be upgraded and expanded, including the construction of a 2-storey passenger terminal capable of handling 500,000 passengers per year and can be expanded to one million passengers when necessary. A new runway will be built, 2,400m long and 45m wide, along with upgrading the taxiway and aircraft parking lot. Upon completion, Ca Mau Airport will be able to handle large aircraft such as A320, A321 and equivalent.
On March 3, at a meeting of the Government Standing Committee with ministries, branches and Kien Giang province on preparations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2027 in Phu Quoc, the Prime Minister assigned Kien Giang province to urgently call for investment in the project to upgrade and expand Phu Quoc Airport under the form of public-private partnership (PPP) and BOT contract.
Phu Quoc Airport's passenger terminal is expected to be upgraded to accommodate 18 - 20 million passengers/year, the cargo terminal is expected to have a capacity of 50,000 tons/year, and the VIP terminal is about 6,000m2 in size.
According to the draft planning of Phu Quoc International Airport for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, before 2030 the airport will be renovated and upgraded with the existing runway (runway 1), extending the runway to 3,300x45m when needed. Runway 2 is planned with similar dimensions, about 360m north of the center of runway 1.
The existing T1 terminal will be retained with a capacity of about 4 million passengers/year. T2 terminal will be planned to the east with a capacity of about 6 million passengers/year and land reserved for expansion when necessary.
Thus, along with the efforts to overcome difficulties of the aviation industry, the investment in airports in 2025 will also help to better meet transportation needs, while increasing the capacity and position of Vietnamese aviation in the international arena.
(Kinh tế Đô thị)
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