Lien Khuong Airport Reopens, Opening New Gateways for Lam Dong
After nearly six months of closure for runway and airside infrastructure upgrades, Lien Khuong International Airport is scheduled to resume operations on August 19, 2026. The reopening will not only restore a key transportation gateway for Vietnam's Central Highlands but also create new opportunities for Lam Dong to expand its domestic and international air network, strengthen connectivity with tourism markets, attract investment, and drive a new phase of socio-economic growth.
After nearly 6 months of closure for runway and airside infrastructure upgrades, Lien Khuong International Airport is scheduled to resume operations on August 19, 2026. The reopening will not only restore a key transportation gateway for Vietnam's Central Highlands but also create new opportunities for Lam Dong to expand its domestic and international air network, strengthen connectivity with tourism markets, attract investment, and drive a new phase of socio-economic growth.
As the first international airport in Vietnam's Central Highlands, Lien Khuong International Airport has long served as a vital gateway connecting Lam Dong with major economic and tourism hubs both domestically and internationally. Each year, millions of passengers choose Lien Khuong as their gateway to Da Lat and surrounding destinations, making a significant contribution to the growth of tourism, services, trade, and investment in the province.
Under the National Airport System Development Plan to 2030, with a vision to 2050, Lien Khuong International Airport is planned to be upgraded to a Category 4E airport, serving both civil and military aviation. This strategic designation will enhance the airport's operational capacity, enable it to accommodate wide-body aircraft, expand its international route network, and meet Lam Dong's growing development needs in the years ahead.
To realize this development vision, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has implemented the "Runway and Taxiway Rehabilitation Project at Lien Khuong International Airport." The project's centerpiece is the comprehensive rehabilitation of Runway 09 - 27, measuring 3,250 meters long and 45 meters wide, to restore the airside infrastructure, ensure operational safety, and enhance the airport's handling capacity.
The upgrade is designed not only to meet immediate operational requirements but also to lay the foundation for Lien Khuong International Airport to gradually accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, thereby expanding its capacity to serve international routes in the future.
After being temporarily closed on March 4, 2026 for construction and upgrading works, Lien Khuong International Airport is scheduled to resume operations on August 19, 2026. Under the coordinated reopening plan between the airport and participating airlines, flight services will gradually be restored, with an expected 36–40 flights per day, serving approximately 6,800 passengers daily. Passenger traffic during the final four months of 2026 is projected to reach around 816,000.
These figures highlight the strong recovery potential of Lam Dong's aviation market and reflect airlines' confidence in the operational prospects of Lien Khuong International Airport following the completion of its infrastructure upgrades.
Before its temporary closure for upgrading works, Lien Khuong International Airport had established a network of direct flights to 11 destinations, including eight domestic and three international routes.
The domestic network connected Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Can Tho, and Phu Quoc. Internationally, the airport offered direct services to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Incheon (South Korea), and Kaohsiung (Taiwan).
Immediately after operations resume, the airport's key domestic routes to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will be restored with 7–8 flights per day. The Da Nang route is expected to operate two daily flights, while services to Vinh and Hai Phong will also resume. On the international front, AirAsia plans to restart its Kuala Lumpur route with four flights per week, laying the groundwork for further expansion of the airport's international network.
The reopening of Lien Khuong International Airport is intended not only to restore existing air services but also to create opportunities for new route development. With enhanced operational capacity, Lam Dong will be better connected to key tourism markets across the region, strengthening the province's competitiveness as a destination.
While the upgrade of Lien Khuong International Airport provides a stronger infrastructure foundation, Lam Dong's expanded development landscape following the provincial merger, together with the recovery of the aviation market, is creating favorable conditions for the expansion of its air route network in the years ahead.
Following the merger, Lam Dong has evolved beyond its traditional strength as a highland resort destination by incorporating a coastal tourism ecosystem into its development strategy. The combination of the Central Highlands and the coastline creates opportunities to develop a diverse range of tourism products that integrate mountain retreats, nature-based experiences, cultural attractions, and coastal destinations. This broader tourism offering is expected to encourage longer visitor stays while attracting a wider range of domestic and international travelers.
This also provides a solid foundation for airlines and travel companies to develop integrated tourism products, allowing visitors to explore multiple destinations within a single itinerary rather than focusing primarily on Da Lat as in the past.
The province's expanded development space also translates into greater growth potential for the aviation market. Beyond tourism, sectors such as high-tech agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, and export-oriented industries are generating increasing demand for air connectivity among businesses, industry experts, investors, and trade promotion activities.
In fact, Lien Khuong International Airport has demonstrated strong market appeal for many years. Between 2018 and early 2026, passenger traffic remained at a consistently high level, with domestic travelers accounting for the majority of passengers, while international traffic grew steadily before being temporarily interrupted by the airport's closure for runway rehabilitation and infrastructure upgrades.
Market analysis indicates that Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia remain the most promising regions for future air service expansion. Among them, South Korea has been identified as a priority market, as travel demand between Da Lat and South Korea experienced robust growth in recent years.
Before flight operations were temporarily suspended, passenger traffic between Da Lat and South Korea had been growing rapidly, indicating strong potential for the restoration of direct services. This provides a solid basis for reopening and further expanding air connectivity with one of Lam Dong's most important international tourism markets once Lien Khuong International Airport resumes stable operations.
Following South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia also represent highly promising markets. Although direct flights to these destinations have yet to be fully restored, travel demand between Lam Dong and both countries has continued through connecting flights. In particular, the Kuala Lumpur route has continued to demonstrate strong commercial performance, providing a solid foundation for increasing flight frequencies and expanding future connectivity.
Beyond these established markets, Singapore and Hong Kong are emerging as promising new destinations for future air services. Under ACV's route development program, Scoot has included Lien Khuong International Airport on its list of potential airports for future operations, while HK Express is expected to conduct site surveys and work with Lam Dong's tourism authorities to assess the feasibility of launching services in the near future.
In addition to expanding international connectivity, strengthening the domestic route network remains essential to ensuring stable passenger volumes and efficient traffic distribution. After restoring existing services, ACV will work with airlines to resume routes to Thanh Hoa, Can Tho, and Phu Quoc, while gradually introducing a new route to Hue, further improving access for travelers from key domestic markets.
Alongside passenger transport, Lien Khuong International Airport is also expected to become an important hub for air cargo and aviation logistics. With its strengths in high-tech agriculture, Lam Dong produces a wide range of high-value products, including fresh flowers, vegetables, and premium fruits. Integrating cargo transport with passenger flights will not only improve airlines' operational efficiency but also create greater opportunities to deliver the province's agricultural products to domestic and international markets.
If infrastructure provides the foundation and market demand creates the opportunity, then promotion and collaboration are the keys to turning potential into tangible new air routes.
Alongside the completion of the Lien Khuong International Airport upgrade project, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) is stepping up its route development efforts with both domestic and international airlines through market research, partner engagement, participation in aviation and tourism forums, and destination promotion activities.
Encouraging signs have already emerged. AirAsia plans to resume its Kuala Lumpur service immediately after the airport reopens, while Scoot and HK Express are studying the feasibility of launching new routes to Lam Dong.
For an airline, placing an airport on its route development shortlist or conducting market feasibility studies represents an important milestone, laying the groundwork for future service launches once market conditions are favorable.
To further encourage airlines to expand their operations, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) is offering incentive packages for eligible new international routes. These include discounts on selected airport service charges, support for initial operating costs, and marketing assistance. Such incentives help ease the financial burden during the launch phase, giving airlines greater confidence to establish and expand services to Lam Dong.
However, experience from aviation development in many localities has shown that the success of a new air route cannot rely solely on the efforts of the aviation sector. Long-term sustainability requires close collaboration among local authorities, the tourism industry, travel operators, accommodation providers, and the wider business community to develop attractive tourism products, promote the destination, and build a stable passenger base.
Accordingly, alongside the reopening of Lien Khuong International Airport, Lam Dong should continue to develop its distinctive tourism offerings, organize market promotion programs, strengthen partnerships between airlines and travel companies, and create a favorable business environment that enables new air routes to be launched and sustained over the long term.
The resumption of operations at Lien Khuong International Airport on August 19, 2026, marks a significant opportunity for Lam Dong to build a broader and more integrated air connectivity network in its next phase of development. With upgraded infrastructure, enhanced tourism advantages following the provincial merger, and the close collaboration of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), local authorities, airlines, and the business community, the province is well positioned to gradually realize its goal of expanding both domestic and international air routes.
Written by: Ngoc Diep
Layout and Design: Hoang Anh
Photos: Diem Thuong and file photos