Noi Bai International Airport (NIA), one of the key airports operated by Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), has officially achieved Level 1 of Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA), becoming the first airport in Vietnam to receive accreditation under the global airport carbon management programme.

The milestone marks an important step in ACV’s and Noi Bai International Airport’s proactive efforts to advance green transformation, strengthen emissions management and promote sustainable airport operations. It also establishes a foundation for the airport to progressively align its environmental management practices with international standards in the aviation sector.

A Pioneering Milestone on the Green Transformation Journey

Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) is a globally recognised carbon management certification programme for airports. The programme independently assesses and recognises airports’ efforts to measure, manage and progressively reduce carbon emissions through seven levels of accreditation, ranging from Level 1 to Level 5, including enhanced levels.

Noi Bai International Airport’s achievement of ACA Level 1 in 2026 marks the beginning of its structured carbon management journey and demonstrates ACV’s proactive approach to integrating environmental and sustainability requirements into the management and operation of its airport network. At Level 1, airports are required to identify emission sources within their operational boundaries, calculate annual carbon emissions and compile a carbon footprint report, establishing the essential foundation for more advanced carbon management in subsequent stages.

Building a Robust Foundation for Emissions Data

To achieve ACA Level 1, Noi Bai International Airport conducted a comprehensive review of activities within its operational boundary, identified relevant emission sources and collected data for greenhouse gas accounting. The assessment covered direct and indirect emissions under scope 1 and scope 2, including fuel consumption by vehicles, generators, machinery and equipment; wastewater treatment activities; refrigerants; and electricity purchased from the grid for airport operations.

Based on the collected data, the airport developed a carbon footprint report, setting out the calculation methodology, activity data, emission factors and resulting emissions. The data and assessment process were independently reviewed and verified, providing a reliable foundation for monitoring and managing emissions throughout airport operations.

This represents an important step in NIA’s transition from identifying emission sources to implementing data-driven carbon management. The resulting database will support the assessment of energy efficiency, optimisation of operational activities and the development of appropriate measures to reduce environmental impacts in line with the airport’s actual operating conditions.

Advancing Sustainable Aviation Together

Noi Bai International Airport becoming the first airport in Vietnam to achieve ACA Level 1 demonstrates ACV’s proactive commitment to advancing green transformation across its airport network. As the global aviation industry accelerates efforts to reduce emissions and work towards net-zero emissions by 2050, ACV considers carbon management, energy efficiency and environmental impact reduction to be key elements in the development of a modern, efficient and sustainable airport system.

Mr. Stefano Baronci, Director General of ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, congratulated Noi Bai International Airport on achieving ACA Level 1 and highlighted the milestone as a demonstration of the airport’s and ACV’s commitment to strengthening carbon management and contributing to a more sustainable future, in line with the aviation industry’s shared ambition of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. 

From Today’s Foundation to Tomorrow’s Green Progress

Under Decision No. 42/2026/QD-TTg dated 10 August 2026 of the Prime Minister, Noi Bai International Airport is included among the facilities required to undertake greenhouse gas inventory and control. The completion of ACA Level 1 enables NIA to proactively establish a structured emissions database, carbon accounting methodology and emissions management processes, supporting compliance with current environmental management requirements while creating a foundation for further progress.

Building on this foundation, ACV and Noi Bai International Airport will continue to monitor, update and assess emissions data; explore measures to improve energy efficiency; optimise airport operations; and reduce environmental impacts. As Vietnam’s largest airport operator, ACV remains committed to supporting the aviation industry’s green transformation and progressively integrating international standards and best practices into airport operations across Vietnam.