BANGKOK, June 27 — Thailand’s aviation business continues to enjoy sustained growth during the first eight months of the current fiscal year 2014, said Makin Petplai, president of Airports of Thailand Public Co, Ltd (AoT).
Mr Makin said the number of passengers using airports in Thailand totalled about 60 million from last October 1 to this May 31, up 4.2 per cent from the same period of fiscal 2013, while 419,000 commercial airlines used airports under the AoT, an increase of 13.2 per cent.
The increase was in line with continued growth worldwide which expanded between 4.5 – 5 per cent, he said.
The aviation industry in Asia-Pacific recorded at 6.5 per cent growth.
It is projected that the number of passengers would rise between 2 – 3 per cent this year, said Mr Makin, adding that his office has cooperated with several tourism businesses including the Tourism Authority of Thailand to persuade more foreign tourists to visit Thailand.
As it is projected that the aviation industry, especially in Asia and the Pacific region, would continue to enjoy sustained growth, Mr Makin said facilities at airports such as Bangkok’s Don Mueang which caters to domestic airlines has been improved, allowing it to handle as many as 30 million passengers, while Suvarnabhumi International Airport could cater to a maximum of 45 million.
AoT has also submitted urgent plans to its board and the National Council for Peace and Order on investing for the expansion of Suvarnabhumi International Airport Phase 2 and shortening the construction to 58 months from the 70 months projected earlier, said Mr Makin.
Construction on the expansion at the air ort, worth Bt62 billion, is scheduled to commence this December, he added.
