Tính tất yếu của việc chuyển đổi từ Cảng Hàng không quốc tế Tân Sơn Nhất sang Cảng Hàng không quốc tế Long Thành

Abstract This article examines the necessity and strategy for moving international flight operations from the heavily overloaded Tan Son Nhat International Airport (TSN) to the newly developing Long Thanh International Airport (LT). The study raises the central question: Is this transition an inevitable choice for the sustainable development of the aviation industry and the regional economy? Employing a comprehensive analytical framework, the study integrates quantitative analysis of historical exploitation data of TSN, qualitative analysis of strategic planning documents of the Government, and comparative analysis of typical international airport conversion models in Seoul (Korea) and Bangkok (Thailand). The results reveal that Tan Son Nhat International Airport has reached a critical saturation point in both airspace and ground facilities. Although the expansion of Terminal 3 is necessary, it only provides temporary relief fails to resolve the fundamental issues concerning runway and airspace capacity. Scenario analyses suggest that fully relocating international flight operations to Long Thanh is the strategy for developing a competitive aviation hub in the region. The article concludes that transition is an economic and logistical imperative, representing a crucial step towards ensuring the sustainable development of Vietnam's aviation industry, the Southern Key Economic Region, and the country in the long run. Keywords: Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Long Thanh International Airport, airport overload, aviation hub, infrastructure policy, multi-airport system, regional economic development.