Vietnam's new hub airport nears takeoff but airlines slow to get on board

Transportation Vietnam's new hub airport nears takeoff but airlines slow to get on board

Government offers incentives to support transition from Ho Chi Minh City's main gateway

Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Long Thanh airport is expected to take over much of the region's international air traffic in the coming years. © Reuters

HO CHI MINH CITY -- Vietnam is preparing to start trial operations at Long Thanh International Airport this month, but disputes over fees and airlines' reluctance to move flights are highlighting a new challenge for one of the country's biggest infrastructure projects: turning a second gateway for the Ho Chi Minh City region into a functioning regional aviation hub.