Discover Thomas Romig’s perspective on the potential of Gia Binh International Airport, the strength of a multicultural work environment, and the journey of building a new-generation airport for Vietnam.
With more than 20 years of experience in airport management, operational strategy, and organizational transformation across Europe and North America, Thomas Romig currently serves as Senior Director of Airport Operations at Gia Binh International Airport and Vice President for Safety, Security & Operations at Airports Council International (ACI).
He chose to join Gia Binh International Airport at an early stage of its development, bringing with him extensive international experience and a strong belief in the long-term potential of Vietnam’s aviation sector.
“Having the opportunity to contribute to the development of Gia Binh International Airport alongside a highly capable and ambitious team is something I truly value in my career.”
According to Thomas, Vietnam is entering a pivotal stage in the development of its aviation industry — one that combines rapid market growth with increasing expectations for higher operational and service standards. With a vision to become a high-quality, digitally enabled airport, Gia Binh International Airport has the opportunity to establish a distinctive competitive position from the very beginning.
THE APPEAL OF GBIA
With more than 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, how do you view current global airport trends? What attracted you to join Gia Binh International Airport, a newly established project in Vietnam that is drawing increasing international attention?
The global aviation market is experiencing distinct regional dynamics. Mature markets such as Europe and North America are showing signs of slower growth, while Asia-Pacific and parts of Africa continue to expand rapidly.
This growth is being driven by increasing demand for air travel, strong GDP performance, and broader positive economic conditions that continue to support the expansion of the aviation sector.
For me, Vietnam’s dynamic aviation market and its long-term growth potential were key factors in my decision to join GBIA. The opportunity to contribute to the development and advancement of Vietnam’s aviation industry is both inspiring and meaningful, particularly after spending much of my career supporting aviation development on a global scale.
From your perspective as a global aviation expert and Vice President of ACI, what gives you confidence that GBIA has the potential to become a regional benchmark and attract international expertise from the very beginning?
Northern Vietnam presents significant untapped potential for both passenger and cargo growth, while the existing airport infrastructure is gradually approaching its capacity limits and no longer fully meets evolving expectations for service quality.
This clearly points to the need for a new generation of airport infrastructure — not only to expand capacity, but also to elevate operational excellence and passenger experience.
At the same time, competition within Vietnam’s airport sector is becoming increasingly dynamic. The development of a major aviation hub in Southern Vietnam, together with the expansion of existing airports and the construction of future facilities, is creating a new competitive landscape for airlines, passengers, and cargo traffic.
From a positive perspective, this healthy competition can strengthen the industry’s long-term development. However, launching a new airport within an established aviation network also brings challenges related to market positioning, traffic allocation, and airline attraction.
These are not simply infrastructure challenges. They require strategic planning, market coordination, and a clear understanding of how a new airport can complement and strengthen the broader aviation network.
What stands out is the strong commitment of the Vietnamese Government to developing not only a new airport, but also an integrated ecosystem encompassing transportation connectivity, logistics infrastructure, and surrounding economic development.
If implemented as envisioned, Gia Binh International Airport will not only help relieve capacity constraints, but can also emerge as a new growth engine for Northern Vietnam’s aviation sector — contributing to a more efficient, sustainable, and competitive market over the long term.
A DESTINATION FOR HIGH-CALIBER TALENT
What have your first experiences in Vietnam and at GBIA been like? How would you describe the current team?
From my very first days in Vietnam, I was genuinely impressed by the professionalism, commitment, and dedication demonstrated by the GBIA team.
Beyond executing their responsibilities effectively, the team possesses an in-depth understanding of Vietnam’s aviation market — from its operational characteristics to the unique drivers behind the country’s growth.
This provides a tremendous advantage for the project. Together with other international experts, our role is not to replace existing capabilities, but to contribute global perspectives and proven international practices that complement local expertise.
By combining these strengths, we can further enhance operational standards, strengthen organizational capability, and support the sustainable development of the airport over the long term.
“Vietnam is at a unique stage where rapid industry growth coincides with rising expectations for quality and operational excellence.”
What has impressed you most about the working culture at GBIA? What qualities are essential for professionals who want to succeed here?
One of the first things that stood out to me was the team’s exceptional level of commitment and motivation. Many individuals are willing to go the extra mile to maintain ambitious project milestones, even under demanding conditions.
What is truly remarkable is not only the volume of work accomplished, but also the resilience, determination, and ability to sustain high performance under pressure. The team does not simply meet expectations — they proactively drive progress and keep the project moving forward with consistency and purpose.
Many international experts are joining GBIA. In your view, what is the greatest value of a multicultural workplace?
A diverse workforce is fundamental to operating a world-class international airport. Diversity goes far beyond nationality or professional background — it includes different ways of thinking, different experiences, and different perspectives.
Together, these differences create a more agile, resilient, and adaptable operating environment.
By bringing together globally proven operational practices and lessons learned from leading airports around the world, GBIA can accelerate organizational capability, strengthen operational excellence, and shorten the journey toward building a best-in-class airport.
Built on this foundation, Gia Binh International Airport has the opportunity to develop not only a highly skilled workforce, but also one with a truly international mindset — fostering a high-performance culture and positioning the airport as a new benchmark for quality and operational excellence across the region.