BANGKOK, 18 December 2014 – The Transport Ministry has plans to enhance the efficiency of airports nationwide in terms of service and safety standard in preparation for the arrival of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, Transport Minister revealed.
The plan was contained in his speech to the opening ceremony of a seminar entitled “The Future of Airports as Economic Drive to AEC” which was organized by the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT).
Air Chief Marshal Prajin said he had ordered all aviation units under the supervision of the ministry to escalate the standard of services and safety in order to ensure that all aviation operators and passengers would be served with best services.
The Department of Civil Aviation has been assigned to develop its twenty provincial airports, particularly the ones located near the special economic zones in Mukdahan in the Northeast, Mae Sot in the North, and Hat Yai and Krabi in the South. The improvement will help all airports handle an expected increase in the number of tourists after the official opening of the AEC.
He added that the ministry has also discussed with the Royal Thai Navy a possibility of putting parts of U-Tapao Naval Airport in Rayong for use in commercial purposes. Result of the negotiation is expected to be known by March 2015.
