Yay!

VnExpress reports that an upgraded runway opened to flight operations on Sunday at both Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Trần Văn Thi, director of the Cuu Long Corporation for Investment, Development and Project Management, which oversaw the work, told the news source that renovations took just over six months and were completed on schedule. The repaired facilities will help both airports handle the upcoming domestic travel surge for the Tet holiday.

Here in Saigon, an additional four taxiways were also built at Tan Son Nhat, along with an improved signaling system and aviation signs at a cost of US$86 million. Further work is underway, and by the end of this year five old taxiways will be renovated, while new rapid exit taxiways will be constructed as well, in addition to an improved drainage system.

In Hanoi, Noi Bai's runway 1B was repaired after 16 years of heavy use, while three taxiways were added and older facilities were improved and modernized. The airport's other runway will receive the same treatment in the next phase of work.

Visible cracks began forming on runways at both of Vietnam's largest airports in 2016. Tan Son Nhat's runway 25R/07L was closed last May for repair work, while Noi Bai's damaged runway was closed to flight traffic around the same time.

Last week, construction of Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province began, with the first phase expected to open in 2025. The massive airport will eventually relieve pressure on overcrowded Tan Son Nhat.

[Photo via Flickr user LoadedAaron]