Chu Lai airport in the central province of Quang Nam on March 22 welcomed the first commercial flight conducted by the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

The ATR 72 plane, from Ho Chi Minh City, carried 64 passengers on board, most of them businesspeople investing in the Chu Lai and Dung Quat Economic Zones (IZ) in Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces, respectively.

According to Tran Le Trung, head of the Dung Quat IZ's management board, the resumption of Chu Lai service for civil purposes will contribute to fostering the socio-economic development of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces in general and their respective Chu Lai and Dung Quat IZs in particular. It will also facilitate the travel of the locals and businesspeople who are investing in the two IZs.

Built 40 years ago by the Americans for military purposes, the airport expects to become an international cargo transit centre in the central region.

The airport's upgrade was completed early this month after one year of construction, with a runway, a terminal and auxiliary works having been built at a total cost of over VND 55 billion in the first phase.

Doan Hung, director of the management board of the Chu Lai airport project, said an additional VND 28.6 billion will be invested in purchasing equipment and upgrading the runway in the second phase (2005-2007) to receive bigger planes.

Initially, Vietnam Airlines will offer two flights on the Chu Lai-Ho Chi Minh City air route every Monday and Thursday with ATR 72 planes.