Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith supports calls for the Airports of Thailand (AoT) to run the two state-owned airports in Udon Thani and Tak, to relieve overcrowding at its Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.
After meeting the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, he said if the two airports, currently run by the Department of Airports, come under AoT's management, the company's aviation network would be expanded to the West and the Northeast, and congestion would ease.
The AoT, whose 70% shares are held by the government, now has six airports, including Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi, under its control, but none in the West and the Northeast.
Mr Arkhom believed Tak and Udon Thani airports, in the far west and northeast respectively will help relieve passenger overcrowding at Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports. Those who want to go abroad would not need to go to Suvarnabhumi airport as Udon Thani, which borders Laos, could be developed into a new regional aviation hub linking with routes to foreign countries, AoT president Nitinai Srismatthakarn said.
Udon Thani and Tak airports are among the top earners of the Department of Airports, which runs a total of 28 airports nationwide. His department earlier floated an idea to have the AoT run Udon Thani and Tak airports to boost management efficiency.
The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning is studying investment and marketing plans of all 39 airports nationwide so the AoT can decide whether it should extend its scope of business. Still undecided is whether the AoT will have total control of the new airports or is only hired to manage them.
