The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has asked the Ministry of Construction to approve a revised timeline for Component 4 of Long Thanh Airport’s first phase. Understanding why the airport’s catering and ground‑handling works are delayed helps reveal real challenges in large‑scale projects.

Contracts amended in June required six projects to be completed by 31 August. So far only the No. 2 aviation catering facility and the No. 2 ground‑handling and vehicle‑maintenance centre have reached the equipment‑installation stage.

The remaining four projects – the No. 1 catering facility, the No. 1 ground‑handling centre, and aircraft‑maintenance facilities No. 1, 3 and 4 – have not finished basic construction. Their work is still at the early building phase.

The CAAV said the delays stem from massive workloads, shortages of labour and construction materials, and fluctuating fuel prices. In addition, the shipping of specialised imported equipment has taken longer than expected.

Unfinished common technical infrastructure at the airport has also blocked contractors from organising work sites, building access roads, and connecting utility networks. Without these shared facilities, progress on individual projects is severely hampered.

The authority has set 24 December as the final deadline for construction and equipment installation, and it warned that no further extensions will be granted before the airport opens. This deadline marks the last chance to finish the pending works.