Airports of Thailand reveal plans to build new airports in Chiang Mai and Phuket
Airports of Thailand have announced plans to build new airports in Chiang Mai and Phuket in order to meet an increase in passenger growth in the coming years.
Both of the current airports in Chiang Mai and Phuket can not be expanded so sites have already been selected for construction of two completely new airports, TNA reported.
At an AOT board meeting held on Thursday, it was agreed the two new airports would be built as part of a larger project to build 6 new airports in Thailand.
AOT said that by 2038, 137,790 flights will be arriving at Chiang Mai airport, bring some 23.33 million passengers. However, the current planned expansion of the city’s airport which is due for completion by 2025 would only accommodate 20 million passengers.
It’s a similar story in Phuket, where despite a recent upgrade the airport simply isn’t large enough to cope with the anticipated passenger growth.
AOT predicts Phuket will receive 42.2 million passengers from 211,150 flights by 2038. However, the current airport facilities will only be able to handle 18 million passengers by 2022.
In Chiang Mai the new airport will be located between San Kamphaeng district and Ban Thi district in Lamphun, where it will become a hub for travel in northern Thailand.
Meanwhile, a site in Khok Kloi, Phang Nga, which is located adjacent to Phuket island has been earmarked for the new airport.
The construction of the airports will cost 126 billion baht.
Officials said construction of the new airports will begin next year and will be completed by 2025.
Source: TNA
