Lien Khuong Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Lien Khuong Airport


IATA=DLI
ICAO=VVDL
type=Public
owner=Southern Airports Authority
city-served=Dalat
elevation-f = 3156
elevation-m = 962
coordinates=coord|11|45|02|N|108|22|25|E|type:airport|
r1-number = 09/27
r1-length-f = 7,723
r1-length-m = 2,353
r1-surface = asphalt

Liên Khương Airport (IATA: DLI, ICAO: VVDL) is the largest among 4 airports of Lam Dong province in Central Highlands Vietnam. The airport is located in Duc Trong District, about 30 km south of Da Lat. Due to its short runway, the airport can only receive small airplanes. It is under major reconstruction in order to handle bigger aircraft.

Military activity

Aeroflot Russia ran connection flights within Vietnam with Ilyushin Il-86 aircraft during 1981-89. It is suspected that the Soviet VVS Air Force carried out operations from Lien Khuong after the fall of Saigon in April 1975. Russia disbanded 2 of 3 defensive VVS interceptor squadrons consisting of Su-27,MiG-25, and 13 Yak-50 within Da lat in the summer of 1999. It is unknown the fate of the retired aircraft. Possible transfer to People's Army of Vietnam PAVN and/or People's Air Defense Force of Vietnam PADFV to Hanoi.

Services

*Vietnam Airlines (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)

In the near future, it will welcome more flights from other Vietnam cities such as Da Nang. The airport is also proposed to be upgraded into international standard to serve international flights to Russia, Georgia, Japan, Singapore and Thailand.Fact|date=February 2007

Ground transport

A shuttle van to Dalat is available for 20,000 dong; tickets are available near baggage collection, however seats quickly fill up. A taxi would be around 250,000 dong (15 US Dollars).

See also

* List of airports in Vietnam