Hanoi-based Gia Lam Airport will serve both military and civil aviation activities, according to a master plan released by the Vietnam Civil Aviation Administration on September 25.

According to this plan, Gia Lam Airport will host flights from Hanoi to Dien Bien, Vinh, Na San, etc.

This is a small airport totalling 302.61ha. To serve civil aviation, the airport will be upgraded at a cost of 286.6 billion dong (US$17.8 million), including 136.7 billion dong (US$8.5 million) from now to 2015.

After the upgrade, the airport will meet 3C standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and second-grade standard for military airports, which can receive ATR 72, Fokker 70 and similar aircrafts.

It is estimated that by 2015, Gia Lam Airport will be able to receive 162,000 passengers/year and 290,000 by 2025.

This airport is serving training activities and taxi flights for tourists by helicopter.

(Source: Vietnamnet)