AoT plans to take over 26 airports

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AoT plans to take over 26 airports
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT), the operator of the country's international airports, plans to take over 26 provincial airports which would then be developed into gateways for regional tourism and economic development.

Chotisak Assapaviriya, AoT's president, said the agency will seek approval from its board to conduct a feasibility study into the take-over of the provincial airports, which are currently supervised by the Department of Aviation.

Under the plan, provincial airports will be taken over one by one in order of their economic development potential.

Mr Chotisak said there are currently about five airports which could be developed right away.

Phitsanulok's provincial airport could become a regional airport for the lower North to cater for distribution of goods to neighbouring northern provinces.

For the lower Northeast, the AoT is considering airports in Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani and Khon Kaen.

In the South, there are plans for Krabi's provincial airport to become a major aviation hub.

Mr Chotisak said a public relations campaign would be launched to inform foreign airline operators of the plan so that they could arrange their direct flights to the designated provinces since a large number of tourists do not have Bangkok included in their itineraries.

He said the plan would ease aviation traffic at Don Muang airport and it could help delay the need to build the second phase of Suvarnabhumi airport.

A careful study was needed before the plan would be finalised as provincial airports were in the past thought not to be worth investing in, said Mr Chotisak.

However, he believed efficient management and improvement of the airports would allow profits to be made.