Da Nang International Airport
Encyclopedia
Da Nang International Airport is located in Da Nang
, the largest city in central
Vietnam
. It is the third international airport in the country, besides Noi Bai International Airport
(Hanoi
) and Tan Son Nhat International Airport
(Ho Chi Minh City
), and is an important gateway to access central Vietnam.
In addition to its civil aviation, the runway is shared with the Vietnamese People's Air Force
(VPAF, the Không Quân Nhân Dân Việt Nam), although military activities are now extremely limited.
, the area was ideal for an airfield, having unobstructed approaches to its north/south runways. Tourane Airport was built by the French colonial government in the 1930s as a civilian airport. During World War II
, and the Japanese occupation of French Indochina
, the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force used it as a military air base.
After the war, the facility was used by the French Air Force
during the French Indochina War
(1945–1954). In 1953/54 the French laid a NATO-standard 7800 feet (2,377.4 m) asphalt runway at Tourane and stationed loaned American B-26
s "Invaders" of the Groupe de Bombardement 1/19 Gascogne. In 1954 after the Geneva Peace Accords
, these B-26's were returned to the United States.
In 1955, the newly-established Republic of Vietnam Air Force
(VNAF) inherited from the French a token force of fifty-eight aircraft. These included a few squadrons of Cessna L-19 observation aircraft, C-47 transports and various utility aircraft. Tourane Airfiled was turned over to civilian use, with the South Vietnamese using facilities at Bien Hoa
, Nha Trang
and at Tan Son Nhut, near Saigon.
In 1957 the VNAF re-established a presence at the renamed Da Nang Airport, stationing the 1st Liaison Squadron with Cessna L-19s. The South Vietnamese Army
(ARVN) also used Da Nang as a ranger training facility.
Air Vietnam
also used the facility from 1951 to 1975 for civilian domestic and international flights within Southeast Asia
.
During the Vietnam War
(1959–1975), the facility was known as Da Nang Air Base
, and was a major United States
military base. Once little more than a provincial airfield, the facility was expanded to 2350 acres (951 ha) with two 10000 feet (3,048 m) asphalt runways with concrete touchdown pads. parallel taxiways, and a heliport.
Pacific Airlines inaugurated its daily flight between Da Nang
and Hanoi
in November 2005, giving domestic passengers an additional choice when flying between Da Nang and the capital, a route that had long been monopolized by Vietnam Airlines
. At the beginning of 2008, Korean Air
and Asiana Airlines
announced the operation of summer charters between Seoul (Incheon International Airport
) and Da Nang. Both carriers plan to convert this route to year-round regular scheduled service if this summer charter season proves to be successful.
TransAsia Airways
started service between Taipei and Da Nang in December 2009 [charter], and China Southern Airlines
began service between Guangzhou
and Da Nang in January 2010; flights operate twice weekly. The Vietnamese Government is hoping to serve more flights, to destinations such as Phnom Penh
, Hong Kong
, Siem Reap
, Japan
, South Korea
and Thailand
after the construction of the new international terminal is complete in 2011.
|+ Busiest Domestic Flights Out of Da Nang International Airport by Frequency
|- style="background:darkgrey;"
! |Rank|| |Destinations|| |Frequency (Weekly)
|-
|1
|Ho Chi Minh City
|104
|-
|2
|Hanoi
|56
|-
|3
|Nha Trang
|14
|-
|4
|Buon Ma Thuot
|7
|-
|4
|Da Lat
|7
|-
|4
|Pleiku
|7
|-
|7
|Hai Phong
|4
s, 767
s and Airbus 320s. Traffic volume at Da Nang averages 100 to 150 flights every 24 hours. Annual traffic was circa 1.45 million in 2007 and is expected to reach four million by 2020.
A new 20,000m² terminal, priced at USD $84 million with a capacity of 4 million passengers per year, is expected to be completed by 31 December 2011, opening to receive its first domestic flight on 12 December. The feasibility study for the renovation of the airport was partially sponsored by the United States Trade and Development Agency
(USTDA), and was completed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers
in 2006. The new terminal will include five boarding gates, baggage handling systems, departure and arrivals areas, flight information display system
(FIDS), common user terminal equipment (CUTE), fire detection system
s and comprehensive public address
and security system
s, including screening equipment. Additionally, one of the airport's two runways will be extended from 3048 metres (10,000 ft) to 3500 metres (11,483 ft). Once the project is completed—after a total investment of USD $160 million—the airport will have a total capacity of six million passengers per year.
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
, the largest city in central
Central Vietnam
Central Vietnam or Central , formerly also known as Trung phần by Republic of Vietnam, Trung kỳ and Annam under French Indochina) is one of the three regions of Vietnam . Highlands or Tây Nguyên are often included in the Central...
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. It is the third international airport in the country, besides Noi Bai International Airport
Noi Bai International Airport
Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is the largest in the north of the country. It is 28 miles from the city centre. The travel time from the city centre is 30–45 minutes.-Facilities:...
(Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
) and Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Tan Son Nhat International Airport is Vietnam's largest international airport in terms of area . It has a handling capacity of 15-17 million passengers per year, compared with the capacity of Hanoi - Noi Bai airport of 8 million passengers and Da Nang's 2 million passengers...
(Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
), and is an important gateway to access central Vietnam.
In addition to its civil aviation, the runway is shared with the Vietnamese People's Air Force
Vietnam People's Air Force
The Vietnam People's Air Force is the air force of Vietnam. It is the successor of the former North Vietnamese Air Force and the absorbed Republic of Vietnam Air Force following the re-unification of Vietnam in 1975.-Beginning-1964 :The first Vietnamese aircraft were two trainers, a de Havilland...
(VPAF, the Không Quân Nhân Dân Việt Nam), although military activities are now extremely limited.
History
Situated on flat, sandy ground on the south side of the major port city of Da NangDa Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
, the area was ideal for an airfield, having unobstructed approaches to its north/south runways. Tourane Airport was built by the French colonial government in the 1930s as a civilian airport. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the Japanese occupation of French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
, the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force used it as a military air base.
After the war, the facility was used by the French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
during the French Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
(1945–1954). In 1953/54 the French laid a NATO-standard 7800 feet (2,377.4 m) asphalt runway at Tourane and stationed loaned American B-26
A-26 Invader
The Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
s "Invaders" of the Groupe de Bombardement 1/19 Gascogne. In 1954 after the Geneva Peace Accords
Geneva Conference (1954)
The Geneva Conference was a conference which took place in Geneva, Switzerland, whose purpose was to attempt to find a way to unify Korea and discuss the possibility of restoring peace in Indochina...
, these B-26's were returned to the United States.
In 1955, the newly-established Republic of Vietnam Air Force
Vietnam Air Force
The Vietnam Air Force began with a few hand-picked men chosen to fly alongside French pilots during the State of Vietnam era. It eventually grew into the world’s sixth largest air force at the height of its power, in 1974...
(VNAF) inherited from the French a token force of fifty-eight aircraft. These included a few squadrons of Cessna L-19 observation aircraft, C-47 transports and various utility aircraft. Tourane Airfiled was turned over to civilian use, with the South Vietnamese using facilities at Bien Hoa
Bien Hoa
Biên Hòa is a city in Dong Nai province, Vietnam, about east of Ho Chi Minh City , to which Bien Hoa is linked by Vietnam Highway 1.- Demographics :In 1989 the estimated population was over 300,000. In 2005, the population wss 541,495...
, Nha Trang
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
and at Tan Son Nhut, near Saigon.
In 1957 the VNAF re-established a presence at the renamed Da Nang Airport, stationing the 1st Liaison Squadron with Cessna L-19s. The South Vietnamese Army
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The Army of the Republic of Viet Nam , sometimes parsimoniously referred to as the South Vietnamese Army , was the land-based military forces of the Republic of Vietnam , which existed from October 26, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975...
(ARVN) also used Da Nang as a ranger training facility.
Air Vietnam
Air Vietnam
Active from 1951 to 1975, Air Viet Nam was South Vietnam's first commercial air carrier, headquartered in District 1, Saigon. Established under Emperor Bảo Đại, the Chief of State of South Vietnam, the airline flew over one million passengers, including during the Vietnam War, before its collapse...
also used the facility from 1951 to 1975 for civilian domestic and international flights within Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
.
During the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
(1959–1975), the facility was known as Da Nang Air Base
Da Nang Air Base
Da Nang Air Base was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force facility. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War , stationing Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units there...
, and was a major United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military base. Once little more than a provincial airfield, the facility was expanded to 2350 acres (951 ha) with two 10000 feet (3,048 m) asphalt runways with concrete touchdown pads. parallel taxiways, and a heliport.
Recent history
During the year 2006, Da Nang Airport counted one million passengers annually (40,000 international passengers), the first time since 1975 it had reached this level. By comparison, both the fourth-ranked Phu Bai Airport and fifth-ranked Cam Ranh Airport counted around 400,000 total passengers in the same year.Airlines and destinations
Current regular flights serving Da Nang International Airport are as follows:Pacific Airlines inaugurated its daily flight between Da Nang
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
and Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
in November 2005, giving domestic passengers an additional choice when flying between Da Nang and the capital, a route that had long been monopolized by Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines Company Limited, trading as Vietnam Airlines , is the national flag carrier of Vietnam. Founded in 1956 under the name Vietnam Civil Aviation, the airline was established as a state enterprise in April 1989. Vietnam Airlines is headquartered in Long Bien, Hanoi, with hubs at Noi...
. At the beginning of 2008, Korean Air
Korean Air
Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. , operating as Korean Air, is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of South Korea, with global headquarters located in Seoul, South Korea. Korean Air's international passenger division and related subsidiary cargo division together serve 130 cities in 45...
and Asiana Airlines
Asiana Airlines
Asiana Airlines Inc. is one of South Korea's two major airlines, along with Korean Air. Asiana has its headquarters in Asiana Town in Osoe-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul...
announced the operation of summer charters between Seoul (Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea, the primary airport serving the Seoul national capital area, and one of the largest and busiest airports in the world...
) and Da Nang. Both carriers plan to convert this route to year-round regular scheduled service if this summer charter season proves to be successful.
TransAsia Airways
TransAsia Airways
TransAsia Airways is an airline based in Taipei, Republic of China . It mainly serves the domestic market but also has limited scheduled and charter international services to China, East Asia, and Southeast Asia destinations.- Name :...
started service between Taipei and Da Nang in December 2009 [charter], and China Southern Airlines
China Southern Airlines
China Southern Airlines is an airline headquartered in Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China. It is the world's sixth-largest airline measured by passengers carried, and Asia's largest airline in terms of both fleet size and passengers carried...
began service between Guangzhou
Baiyun International Airport
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport or Pai Yuen Airport was the main airport in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, until August 5, 2004, when it was replaced by the identically named Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, some 25 kilometers north away. The airport was opened in 1932....
and Da Nang in January 2010; flights operate twice weekly. The Vietnamese Government is hoping to serve more flights, to destinations such as Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and is the gateway to Angkor region.Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
after the construction of the new international terminal is complete in 2011.
Statistics
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:89%; align=center;"|+ Busiest Domestic Flights Out of Da Nang International Airport by Frequency
|- style="background:darkgrey;"
! |Rank|| |Destinations|| |Frequency (Weekly)
|-
|1
|Ho Chi Minh City
|104
|-
|2
|Hanoi
|56
|-
|3
|Nha Trang
|14
|-
|4
|Buon Ma Thuot
|7
|-
|4
|Da Lat
|7
|-
|4
|Pleiku
|7
|-
|7
|Hai Phong
|4
Accidents and incidents
- On 30 September 1970, Douglas DC-3DSTDouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
B-305 of Air VietnamAir VietnamActive from 1951 to 1975, Air Viet Nam was South Vietnam's first commercial air carrier, headquartered in District 1, Saigon. Established under Emperor Bảo Đại, the Chief of State of South Vietnam, the airline flew over one million passengers, including during the Vietnam War, before its collapse...
crashed into a hill near Da Nang while attempting to divert to Da Nang Airport due to weather conditions at its intended destination of Phu Bai AirportPhu Bai AirportPhu Bai International Airport is located just south of the central city of Huế, former capital of Vietnam.- News :* October 30, 2005: Phú Bài Airport officially welcomed its first international flight since it was allowed to receive international flights by Government in 2002...
, HuếHueHue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
. Three of the 38 people on board were killed.
Facilities
Da Nang International Airport has two 10000 feet (3,048 m) paved, parallel runways (17-35 orientation) capable of handling large, modern aircraft such as Boeing 747Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
s, 767
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
s and Airbus 320s. Traffic volume at Da Nang averages 100 to 150 flights every 24 hours. Annual traffic was circa 1.45 million in 2007 and is expected to reach four million by 2020.
A new 20,000m² terminal, priced at USD $84 million with a capacity of 4 million passengers per year, is expected to be completed by 31 December 2011, opening to receive its first domestic flight on 12 December. The feasibility study for the renovation of the airport was partially sponsored by the United States Trade and Development Agency
United States Trade and Development Agency
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency , located in Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia, is an independent U.S. Government foreign assistance agency pursuant to section 661 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended . The agency was established to advance economic development and U.S. commercial...
(USTDA), and was completed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
in 2006. The new terminal will include five boarding gates, baggage handling systems, departure and arrivals areas, flight information display system
Flight information display system
A Flight Information Display system is a computer system used in airports to display flight information to passengers, in which a computer system controls mechanical or electronic display boards or TV screens in order to display arrivals and departures flight information in real-time. The displays...
(FIDS), common user terminal equipment (CUTE), fire detection system
Fire alarm system
An automatic fire alarm system is designed to detect the unwanted presence of fire by monitoring environmental changes associated with combustion. In general, a fire alarm system is classified as either automatically actuated, manually actuated, or both...
s and comprehensive public address
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
and security system
Airport security
Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and aircraft from crime.Large numbers of people pass through airports. This presents potential targets for terrorism and other forms of crime due to the number of people located in a particular location...
s, including screening equipment. Additionally, one of the airport's two runways will be extended from 3048 metres (10,000 ft) to 3500 metres (11,483 ft). Once the project is completed—after a total investment of USD $160 million—the airport will have a total capacity of six million passengers per year.
See also
- Noi Bai International AirportNoi Bai International AirportNoi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is the largest in the north of the country. It is 28 miles from the city centre. The travel time from the city centre is 30–45 minutes.-Facilities:...
- Tan Son Nhat International AirportTan Son Nhat International AirportTan Son Nhat International Airport is Vietnam's largest international airport in terms of area . It has a handling capacity of 15-17 million passengers per year, compared with the capacity of Hanoi - Noi Bai airport of 8 million passengers and Da Nang's 2 million passengers...
- List of airports in Vietnam
Further reading
- Mikesh, Robert C. (2005) Flying Dragons: The South Vietnamese Air Force. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 0764321587 (Historical origins of the facility)