The airport was closed from mid-April last year for an upgrade and expansion, making it capable of handling modern Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft and the equivalent airliners.

Dien Bien airport, previously known as Muong Thanh airport, was built by the French. It has a ranway which is 1,830 meters in length and 30 meters in width, three aprons, and a passenger terminal that was built in 2004 with an annual capacity of 300,000 passengers a year.

Due to short runway and simple landing systems, Dien Bien airport can only accommodate ATR 72 turboprops and Embraer 190 jets which can transport a maximum 114 passengers.

Work on the airport expansion project started on January 22 last year, with total investment capital of nearly VND1.47 trillion (US$62.3 million).

In addition, Dien Bien province set aside VND1.56 trillion (US$66.1 million) from its budget for site clearance.

The expansion project involves lengthening the runway to 2.400 meters and widening it to 45 meters, rebuilding runway turn pads, building more taxiways, installing light systems, and developing supporting components.

After expansion, the two-storey terminal can serve 500,000 passengers per year./.

Thuy Dung