BANGKOK – After a rumor spread, claiming Airports of Thailand (AOT) is looking to cancel operations at Hat Yai airport in Songkhla and at Mae Fah Luang airport in Chiang Rai, the Minister of Transport has officially denied this rumor after delivering his policies to AOT executives, confirming the two airports will remain operational and will be developed, along with all 6 AOT airports, to support tourism.
Minister of Transport Saksayam Chidchob has denied a rumor about AOT’s plan to demolish Hat Yai International Airport and Mae Fah Luang Airport. Instead, the Minister of Transport insisted that there is no such plan.
The Minister said he has delivered policies to the AOT to reduce take-off, landing and other fees, collected from aircraft operations at all 6 AOT-operated airports, by 50 percent in a 3-month pilot campaign during the tourism high season, in keeping with the government’s policy to promote tourism.
He has also delivered his policy to Thai Airways International regarding the airlines’ business recovery plan to generate more revenue and cut unnecessary costs, especially on its hiring plan and employee benefits, which should correspond with the company’s financial performance and comply with the technology implementation plan.
The national flag carrier has been instructed to procure new aircraft from globally recognized companies, and to clarify the aircraft procurement under the business recovery plan within 3 months, highlighting the necessity to purchase new aircraft to increase the airline’s competitiveness.
Thai Airways will be working with Airports of Thailand and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand to address an issue where flight slots given to certain airlines are not utilized, and recall these unused slots for resale at lower prices. The country’s aviation sector now has 20% of its flight slots which remain unused.
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