AOT eyes increasing Suvarnabhumi’s transit flights
Plan is to have transit flights make up 20% of all flights and turn Thailand’s main international airport into a major aviation hub
Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) is aiming to increase transit flights at Suvarnabhumi Airport from the current 4% of all flights to 20% as part of the master plan to make Thailand’s main international airport an aviation hub in the Southeast Asian region.
The plan includes making Suvarnabhumi one of the world’s 20 best airports by 2030 with a capacity of 150 million passengers per year, Keerati Kitmanawat, AOT president said on Thursday.
“To achieve this goal, we need to increase the number of transit flights at Suvarnabhumi to at least 20% to highlight the airport’s strength as a regional hub,” he said, adding that transit flights at Singapore’s Changi Airport make up about 40% of all flights.
Keerati said transit flights at Suvarnabhumi total just 4% of all flights though this is expected to increase to 5% next year.
To further accelerate growth, AOT plans to discuss with large airlines, including Thai Airways International (THAI), and members of Star Alliance about the possibility of directing more flights to transit at Suvarnabhumi, he said.
AOT has also laid the groundwork to prepare for increasing passengers, including opening the 3rd runway at Suvarnabhumi, which helped increase the airport’s capacity from 68 flights per hour to 94 flights per hour.
AOT also expects the 9-billion-baht project to expand Suvarnabhumi’s East Terminal to be approved by the Cabinet in December. The construction is estimated to be completed in 2027 and will help increase the airport’s capacity by 15 million passengers per year.
The authority is set to roll out a new automated biometric identification system to facilitate passengers boarding flights at six AOT airports across Thailand this year.
Domestic passengers have been able to use facial recognition technology to verify their identity since November 1. The system will be fully operational for international travellers starting December 1.
AOT manages Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai airports, which account for 95% of domestic and international flights.
