An airport will be constructed in Betong, the border district in Yala province, at a cost of 1.2 billion baht, the Department of Civil Aviation said.
Department deputy director-general Seree Jitsopha said the construction funding will be allocated in the 2015 budget.
The department is buying land for the airport. However, two owners were refusing to settle on the sale of their land. Mr Seree said land appropriation could be an option if they insist on refusing to sell.
The airport will have a 1.8 kilometre long runway and will serve people in the southern border region. There are two airports in the southernmost border region, in nearby Narathiwat and Pattani, but only the one in Narathiwat is used for commercial flights.
The main airport for the southern border area is Hat Yai International Airport in Songkhla.
Other airports also under consideration by the department would be in Surin, Satun and Amnat Charoen provinces. However, the agency has not yet committed to building them. These three projects are still in the feasibility study stage, Mr Seree said.
Mr Seree added the site proposed for the airport in Surin is army land and too close to the town. The department would probably look for a new location if the plan goes ahead.
Satun has a small airport operated by the air force, and the one in Amnat Charoen belongs to the army. All four airports, including Betong, were proposed by residents and their MPs as commercial airports.
Building new airports needs approval from the National Economic and Social Development Board.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/348212/betong-to-be-site-of-yala-first-airport
