Airports of Thailand will begin construction on a
new domestic passenger terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport in
2012.
Scheduled for completion in 2015, the new
domestic terminal will accommodate an additional 20 million
passengers a year.
The project, which will cost less than Bt10
billion, is part of a long-term investment programme that includes
construction of a third runway and a midfield terminal saidAOT president
Serirat Prasutanond.
However, the company will first build the
domestic terminal, which will be connected to the present main
terminal by a monorail.
Serirat said the company also planned to develop
commercial areas on its land near the airport, in partnership with
the private sector.
The private sector will be invited to invest in
six projects at the old Don Mueang Airport: a landing-gear
maintenance centre, an aircraft-parts stock-management centre,
small and medium-sized maintenance centres, an international
free-trade zone, a flight-simulator centre and jet and air taxi
terminals.
"All the projects will be funded by private
firms, and some companies are being approached," said Serirat.
AOT also plans to launch a five-year plan for the
expansion of Phuket Airport this year, which will involve
construction of a new runway and expansion of the terminal and
other facilities and services.
AOT would also try to
assure Suvarnabhumi Airport's status among the world's top 10
airports despite being affected by the forced closure late last
year, Serirat said last week at an AOT seminar entitled “The Path
to Be a Regional Hub”.
