Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai province held a drill on October 7 to test how it would receive a flight from an area with an infectious disease threat before the airport begins partial operations at the end of 2026.
The morning session simulated the response procedure, while the practical exercise took place at the airport in the afternoon. Simulated passengers underwent health screening, were directed through separate flows and received assistance under a scenario involving a possible disease risk.
Airport officials said the exercise was designed to test coordination, response and passenger-service procedures if a disease threat appears at the airport.
Airport staff, IAC consultants, air traffic controllers, health quarantine officers, border police, customs officials, ground-handling companies and an airline took part.
The exercise is part of the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer program, or ORAT, which tests systems, procedures and coordination before the airport receives real passengers.
According to Airports Corporation of Vietnam, or ACV, it and Incheon Airport consultants have prepared 55 operating scenarios for Long Thanh's trial operations. Two scenarios were tested with outside organizations in September.
ORAT has three stages. The first runs in September and October, the second is scheduled for November and the final stage for December. Before partial operations begin at the end of the year, the entire passenger-service system must be checked for safety, quality and operational capacity.
Long Thanh Airport covers about 5,000 hectares and has a total investment of nearly 16 billion US dollars. Phase one includes one runway and one passenger terminal, with capacity for 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo a year. Partial operations are expected to begin at the end of 2026.
Sources: VnExpress
