The Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) aims to expand Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports to be able to cope with up to 120 million passengers a year by 2021, according to the AoT president, Nitinai Sirismatthakarn.
The AoT is working on a master plan to develop the airports in line with growth in the aviation industry, said Mr Nitinai, speaking after an event to celebrate the company’s 36th birthday.
“We expect to complete the master plan by early next year,” Mr Nitinai said. Under the plan, the AoT will invest between 130-140 billion baht over five years in the airports.
Suvarnabhumi airport is currently capable of handling 45 million passengers a year and Don Mueang airport can serve 18.5 million.
The AoT plans to increase those numbers to 80 million and 30 million, respectively, within four to six years.
Meanwhile, there has been slow progress in expanding Suvarnabhumi airport — currently in the second phase of its development which entails the construction of two new passenger terminals.
One will be built in March next year and completed by 2019 with a budget between 52 to 55 million baht.
The second new passenger terminal, estimated at 27 billion baht, is still awaiting approval from the cabinet.
The AoT also plans to build a third runway at Suvarnabhumi in a project currently undergoing an environmental health impact assessment.
Work is also underway to upgrade Don Mueang airport, Mr Nitinai said, adding that No 5 Concourse is expected to be completed in August and will be open to passengers one month later.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/607664/city-airport-upgrades-to-start-by-2016
