{
  "id": 153904,
  "title": "Vietnam's largest island adds 8,500 flights in 7 months ahead of APEC 2027",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/vietnams-largest-island-adds-8-500-flights-in-7-months-ahead-of-apec",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-05T01:03:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "VnExpress International",
    "slug": "vnexpress-international",
    "url": "https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/traffic/vietnam-s-largest-island-adds-8-500-flights-in-7-months-ahead-of-apec-2027-5105015.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Vietnam's largest island, Phu Quoc, has witnessed a significant surge in air traffic, with flights increasing by 44% in just seven months. The airport, Phu Quoc International Airport, reached a total of 27,919 aircraft takeoffs and landings, marking an almost 8,500-flight increase. This rapid growth is part of preparations for the APEC Economic Leaders' Week 2027, which is expected to see thousands of delegates and international flights from all 21 APEC member economies.\n\nThe airport has been undergoing a major expansion to accommodate the anticipated rise in traffic. Key upgrades include new passenger touchpoints with site-wide Wi-Fi, faster 4G/5G connectivity, and optimized flight information displays. An electronic toll collection system has been implemented to reduce vehicle transit time, and a biometric system with automated gates using facial recognition has been installed for swift and secure security screening and boarding.\n\nA standout feature of the expansion is the completion of 3,300m runway 2, which took just eight months to build - a record-breaking pace. This runway is crucial for handling wide-body jets, including the Boeing 787, Airbus A350, and Boeing 777. The runway's construction proceeded while the airport remained fully operational, even with surging takeoffs and landings.\n\nNguyen Ba Quan, Director of Phu Quoc International Airport, described the project as highly significant and completed within a tight timeframe amid challenging weather conditions. The airport expansion project, led by Sun Airport JSC, has a total capital investment of VND22 trillion (US$846 million). Upon completion, the airport's annual passenger capacity is expected to rise from 20 million in 2027 to 50 million.\n\nThe project also includes the construction of Terminal 2, which is nearing completion. Around 90% of structural work and roof structure installation are finished, with aviation equipment installation underway. Around 3,000-3,500 engineers, workers, and supervisory staff are on-site daily. The VIP terminal, while 100% complete structurally, is still in the mechanical-and-electrical installation and finishing phase. Runway 2 was completed in July 2026, with calibration flights conducted to ensure the Instrument Landing System, Distance Measuring Equipment, approach lighting, and Precision Approach Path Indicator systems were functioning correctly.",
  "summary": "Passenger volumes at Phu Quoc International Airport have repeatedly set records, with more than 4.48 million passengers served during January - July, up nearly 38% annually.",
  "key_points": [
    "Phu Quoc International Airport sees 44% rise in flights over seven months.",
    "Airport prepares for APEC Economic Leaders' Week 2027.",
    "Runway 2 completes in record 8 months, enabling wide-body jet handling."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Phu Quoc's airport expansion, driven by its APEC 2027 hosting role, upgrades its capacity to handle more traffic, delegates, and international flights, positioning the island to receive more visitors.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}