Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith has launched the project to build Betong airport in Yala, aimed to facilitate air travel to the distant southernmost district to help boost the local economy.
The minister yesterday presided over the ceremony laying a foundation stone for the new airport. The project, approved by the cabinet on Nov 28, will facilitate access to the district surrounded by mountains.
A road has been built around the airport covering 920 rai.
The airport's passenger terminal is already under construction.
The 1,800-metre runway is now more than 30% complete while the terminal, covering 7,000 sq m, is progressing as planned, according to Darun Saengchai, chief of the Department of Airports.
The department is overseeing the 1.9-billion-baht project to build the airport, which will take three years to finish. The project is expected to be finished in July 2019 and it will be ready for commercial service as the department's 29th airport during the New Year festival in 2020, Mr Arkhom said.
With a capacity to serve 500,000 passengers a year, the airport will be a driver for tourism growth in the southernmost region, he said.
The airport will be key to increasing the number of tourists from 600,000 a year currently to one million and bringing in annual revenue of more than four billion baht.
Air travel will give people a greater and faster choice of transport to the district.
The Department of Airports said Betong airport's runway was originally planned to be 1,800m long and 30m wide.
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