Thailand prepares 80 billion baht airport expansion, including Phuket
Thailand airport expansion projects worth around 80 billion baht are being prepared as the government moves ahead with plans to position the country as a regional aviation hub. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport…
Thailand is preparing airport expansion projects worth about 80 billion baht as the government pushes to turn the country into a regional aviation hub, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said after meeting Airports of Thailand executives and related officials. The plan covers major work at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket airports as rising air travel demand adds pressure on capacity.
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang projects move toward Cabinet
Phiphat instructed Airports of Thailand, or AOT, to speed up submission of key expansion plans to the Cabinet for approval. The main proposals are the east expansion terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phase 3 of the Don Mueang Airport expansion plan.
AOT President Paweena Jariyathitipong said the agency has already prepared a five-year investment plan valued at around 80 billion baht. Most of the projects have completed feasibility studies and are now under review by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council.
The first project expected to go to the Cabinet this year is Suvarnabhumi’s East Expansion development, with an estimated budget of about 12 billion baht. Bidding is expected to open by the end of this year, construction is planned for early 2027, and the project is expected to take about four years before opening in 2030.
Don Mueang’s Phase 3 expansion is also expected to be proposed to the Cabinet this year with a revised budget of about 69 billion baht. The project was previously estimated at around 36 billion baht before costs rose due to conflicts in the Middle East.
Phuket Phase 2 targets higher passenger capacity
The airport program also includes Phase 2 of Phuket Airport’s expansion, carrying an estimated investment value of about 10 billion baht. The project is intended to raise annual passenger handling capacity from 12.5 million travellers to 18 million a year.
Paweena said AOT has already secured funding for the planned projects. She added that the operator currently holds around 10 billion baht in accumulated cash reserves separate from its allocated investment budgets.
Source: https://thethaiger.com/news/world/aviation/thailand-to-invest-80-billion-baht-in-airport-expansion
