BANGKOK, 1 May 2014 – The AOT Director Mekin Petplai has confirmed the development of the second phase of Suvarnabhumi Airport is on schedule while acknowledging that the impact of political conflict in Bangkok has decreased the number of passengers.
Airports of Thailand PLC, (AOT) Director Mekin Petplai reveals the overall revenue in the first quarter of 2014 increased by only 5.1%, much lower than the expected 10%, mainly due to the political conflict. However, AOT has developed contingency plans to maintain the overall outcome of 2014 at a satisfactory level, by reducing the airport fee and promoting Thai tourism in cooperation with The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
The first phase of the Don Meung development plan will be completed by the end of 2014, It is designed to serve 30 million passengers currently, rising to 40 million passengers in 2015. With its completion, the two Bangkok airports will have a combined capacity of 100 million passengers a year by 2016, accessing both Don Meung and Suvarnabhumi International airports. Meantime, in 2014, AOT expects 80 million passengers.
The AOT is now urgently working on the development of the second phase of Suvarnabhumi airport. Mekin said that the construction layout is being concluded and it should be possible to open the auction in May. So far the plan is still on schedule and the development project is expected to be completed in 2017.
In its present phase, Suvarnabhumi Airport has the capacity to service 45 million passengers a year. The main international airport will later have the capacity to handle 60 million passengers a year.
