AOT earmarks 97 billion baht to expand 6 airports in next 6 years
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is set to invest approximately 97 billion baht to expand its six international airports in the next six years to cope with rising foreign arrivals.
AOT director Kirati Kitmanawat said expansion plans for Suvarnabhumi, Don Muang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai’s Mae Fah Luang, Hat Yai and Phuket international airports had been approved several years ago. However, they had to be delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The six expansion projects are:
• Suvarnabhumi’s east wing expansion: The aim is to expand the passenger building on the east side to accommodate 15 million passengers annually. The blueprint is under revision, with bidding expected in March next year. Construction will commence the same year, with completion scheduled for 2027.
• Don Mueang’s Phase 3 expansion: A new international passenger terminal will be constructed and the existing one will be renovated, boosting the airport’s passenger capacity from 30 million to 50 million per year. The design is expected to be completed by June next year, with bidding scheduled for late 2024 or early 2025. The project is expected to be completed by 2030.
• Phuket airport’s Phase 2 expansion: This project will expand the international passenger building, raising its capacity from 12.5 million to 18 million per year. The terms of reference (TOR) for hiring a company to design the project next year is being drafted, with construction set to begin in 2026 and completion expected in 2029.
• Chiang Mai Airport’s Phase 1 expansion: A new international passenger terminal will be built and the current one renovated for domestic flights, aiming to boost passenger capacity from 8 million to 16.5 million annually. The project is in the design phase, with construction scheduled to start in 2025 and completed in 2028.
• Mae Fah Luang Airports’ Phase 1 expansion: A new passenger terminal will be constructed to boost passenger capacity from 3 million to 6 million per year. A TOR is being drafted to hire a firm to design the project, with construction expected to start in 2026 and be completed in 2029.
• Hat Yai airport’s expansion: The expansion plan for this airport is still under review.
