Da Lat airport is slated to reopen next month after a multi‑month shutdown for runway and taxiway upgrades, officials said.
Reopening schedule and flight capacity
The Lam Dong provincial government announced that operations will resume on September 2, with a capacity of up to 40 flights a day. Six domestic routes will be served by Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways and Pacific Airlines, linking the highland city to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Vinh, Cần Thơ and Hải Phòng.
AirAsia will restart its Da Lat‑Kuala Lumpur service, offering four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. This schedule will be the first overseas connection after the airport’s reopening.
Provincial officials expect the airport to handle about 6,800 arriving and departing passengers a day, which translates to roughly 816,000 passengers over the final four months of 2026. The Da Lat‑Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat‑Hanoi routes are each slated for seven to eight daily flights, while the Da Lat‑Da Nang link will see two flights per day.
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Operational targets and fare incentives
Authorities aim to keep the average passenger load factor on domestic routes at 75 percent or higher during the first 90 days after reopening. Routes falling below a 65 percent load factor will be reviewed for possible demand‑stimulus measures or adjustments to flight frequency.
The province has also asked airlines to consider discounted fares for Lam Dong residents, tour groups and conference attendees through December 31. This move is intended to boost occupancy and support the region’s tourism sector, which relies heavily on air access.
Beyond the initial slate of routes, Lam Dong plans to add one or two more domestic services by the end of the year, targeting Thanh Hóa, Huế or Phú Quốc. The government also hopes to launch at least two package‑tour programs in partnership with airlines and travel companies.
In the longer run, the province is looking to formalize cooperation with priority markets such as South Korea, Singapore and Thailand, while maintaining the Kuala Lumpur connection. Flights to Incheon are projected to begin in December 2026, with four weekly services, and a Da Lat‑Singapore route is slated for the same month, operating three times a week.
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Other potential international destinations include Bangkok, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Jeju, Muan, as well as cities in mainland China, Japan and Hong Kong. Some of these may start as seasonal charter flights before becoming regular scheduled services, depending on passenger demand.
While the reopening promises a surge in connectivity, the airport’s ability to sustain high load factors will depend on how quickly airlines can fill seats, especially on routes with lower initial demand. The success of fare discounts and package‑tour initiatives could be important in shaping the airport’s recovery trajectory.
Runway work at Lien Khuong Airport, the first international airport in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, has been nearly completed. The project extended the runway to 3,250 meters, widened its surface, reinforced its structure and upgraded the taxiways and aircraft turning areas.
Before the closure on March 4, the airport averaged 36 flights and handled about 5,900 passengers daily across five domestic and two international routes. The upgraded facilities are expected to support the increased flight volume and passenger numbers outlined in the reopening plan.