The new terminal will have a floor area of 200,000 square metres and will be able to handle 20 million passengers a year, adding to the current capacity of 25 million, although the airport already served 36 million passengers last year.
The expansion is estimated to cost VND18 trillion (US$792 million) and is expected to be fully completed by 2025.
The land to the north of Tan Son Nhat, which includes a golf course and a 16-hectare lot managed by the Ministry of Defence, will be used as a cargo terminal and support facilities after 2025.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasised that the chosen plan achieves the highest efficiency in land and capital use, as well as guaranteeing technical, security and safety issues.
According to ADPI, the construction of a terminal to the north of the airport would cost double and take longer, while the new terminal would be separate from the two existing terminals, making landing and take-off procedures less efficient.
The French consultant said that the first phase of chosen plan could be completed in 2-3 years, helping to ease the pressure on the overburdened airport.
Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The stated that ADPI is a completely independent consultant and its proposal is the optimum.
Deputy Minister of Defence Phan Van Giang confirmed his support for this plan and pledged to hand over the remaining 16 hectares under its control for the airport expansion.
