The project will cost over US$85 million.

Dan Tri reports that a feasibility study for work on a runway at Tan Son Nhat has been sent to the Ministry of Transport for approval. The funds would come from the state budget.

Accordingly, VND1.5 trillion of the VND2 trillion budget would go towards construction work, and the remainder would be for equipment purchases.

Runway 25R/07L, one of the airport's two runways, will be upgraded to handle larger modern aircraft that have been designed since it was first built. This work is expected to take six months once approved, while other supporting infrastructure will be completed over the course of 14 months.

In April, VnExpress reported that the transport ministry wanted runway repair work at both Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi to start this June, as the continued deterioration of these facilities poses safety risks at the aerodromes.

Saigon's airport handled over 40 million passengers last year, well over its designed capacity of 25 million. This runway upgrade is part of a plan to expand the facility's limit to 50 million passengers per year. A third terminal has also been proposed, though no work has begun.

Meanwhile, construction on Long Thanh International Airport, which will be the city's future flight hub, isn't expected to begin until May of next year.

[Photo via Vietnam Airlines]