Thai airports spruce up for AEC

23 Dec 2014 2038 | Business & Trade Fairs

BANGKOK Thailand’s Ministry of Transport says it plans to rebuild airport efficiency, nationwide, for both service and safety standards once ASEAN Economic Community rules kick in January 2015.
Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal, Prajin Juntong, said he has ordered all aviation units under the supervision of the ministry to improve services and safety so the country’s airports can complete and be on par with airports in neighbouring countries.
“Ministry of Transport, Airports of Thailand and Department of Civil Aviation have drafted a strategic plan to develop major airports so they can handle more passengers and cargo in preparation of the launch of AEC next year.”
The implementation of AEC is officially set on 31 December 2015.
inside no 6AEC is often seen as the clarion call to agencies to at least announce a process that will help them to compete even if measures are not in place at the start of the AEC era, January 2015. Also, some of the features of AEC will have staggered launch dates and are viewed as a catalyst to encourage improvements in the long-term.
The Department of Civil Aviation has been assigned to develop provincial airports, particularly the ones located near special economic zones in Mukdahan in the Northeast, Mae Sot in the North, and Hat Yai and Krabi in the South, all close to neighbours in the ASEAN community.
The government plans to upgrade Krabi airport as an “alternative airport” to Phuket in case Phuket is unable to handle more flights.
“The improvement will help all airports cope with increases in traffic after AEC starts,” the minister said.
He added that the ministry has also discussed with the Royal Thai Navy a possibility of upgrading the Navy-run U-Tapao Airport near Pattaya to make it a major gateway airport. A decision on that proposal could be made as early as March 2015.
Department of Civil Aviation supervises 28 airports nationwide, while AoT manages six airports—Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai.

sourced:ttrweekly.com