New Thai airport chief still wants old airport
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According to a Bangkok Post report, the AoT President said he will pursue a “dual-airport policy”, saying making use of Don Muang and the newer Suvarnabhumi airport would reduce the financial burden on the state’s coffers.
According to him, the second-phase Suvarnabhumi airport expansion plan would cost more than Bt 60 billion (US$1.89 billion).
”We still owe debts totalling Bt75 billion to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
“Therefore, we have to efficiently manage the existing Don Muang airport to make it financially self-reliant,” he was quoted saying.
Over recent years, a huge amount had been spent on developing Don Muang so it would be lamentable if the old airport was turned into a shopping mall, he was quoted saying.
However, the report said Thai Airways International was against the dual-airport policy, saying it did not want to shoulder the increased investment needed to run flights from both airports.
A study on the combined use of the two airports, being carried out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), is expected to be completed by the end of the year, the report said.
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