Government sets new rules for aviation infrastructure management

Decree 287/2025/ND-CP provides a clearer framework for the management and use of aviation infrastructure assets, outlining the responsibilities of relevant agencies and ensuring compliance with the land law and the law on public asset management and use.

From January 1 next year, wholly state-owned enterprises under the Ministry of Construction that provide flight operation assurance services and state enterprises directly operating aerodrome infrastructure and other essential facilities in accordance with the law on civil aviation will be responsible for managing aviation infrastructure assets, according to a decree recently issued by the Government.

Decree 287/2025/ND-CP, superseding Government Decree 44/2018/ND-CP of March 13, 2018, applies to agencies performing the state management of civil aviation, specialized agencies tasked to advise on and enforce aviation-specialized laws, enterprises assigned to manage aviation infrastructure assets, and other stakeholders.

According to the decree, aviation infrastructure assets comprise aviation infrastructure facilities and the land areas attached thereto. Particularly, the determination and management of assets related to national defense and security must comply with the law on protection of defense works, military zones and key facilities related to national security.

The new regulation requires the management, use and exploitation of aviation infrastructure assets to comply with the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets. It says that these assets are subject to statistics compilation and accounting in terms of assets and asset value.

In addition, asset management responsibilities must be assigned based on approved airport and aerodrome development master plans or plans as suitable to the functions and duties of the assigned units.

As stated in the decree, the operation or handling of aviation infrastructure assets may be conducted for the whole or part of the assets provided that aviation activities remain uninterrupted and safe and do not affect the remaining assets. If such activities are likely to impact other assets at airports or aerodromes, it is required to obtain the consent of related management units and clearly define the responsibility for remediation.

Meanwhile, land areas attached to aviation infrastructure assets will be managed under the land law, the civil aviation law and other relevant laws. In case such land is subject to recovery, the process of land recovery, compensation, support, resettlement, and the handling of the recovered land must comply with the land law.

- (VLLF)