Thailand aims for 270 million passengers by 2037

To solidify its position as the aviation powerhouse of the Asia Pacific, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) unveiled a comprehensive three-stage strategy yesterday.

This ambitious plan aims to skyrocket the nation’s air traveller capacity to an astounding 270 million passengers annually by 2037, propelling Thailand into the region’s top five countries for air logistics.

The initiative, part of the government’s Ignite Thailand campaign launched in February, is set to transform the country into a hub for tourism, medical treatment, food, aviation, logistics, electric vehicles, digital economy, and finance by 2030.

The initial phase, which is aimed to be completed by next year, focuses on boosting Thailand’s airport capacity to handle 1.2 million flights and 180 million passengers annually. The CAAT aims to reduce the minimum connecting time (MCT) for international flights to no more than 75 minutes.

During the second stage, planned to take place between 2026 and 2028, the capacity target will rise to 1.4 million flights and 210 million passengers per year by 2028. Additionally, the MCT will be further reduced to a maximum of 60 minutes.

The final stage, scheduled for 2029 to 2037, will see the capacity soar to 2.1 million flights and 270 million passengers annually by 2037, with the MCT dropping to under 45 minutes.

The CAAT emphasised the importance of collaboration with various aviation and related agencies. These include the Department of Airports, Airports of Thailand Plc, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, Civil Aviation Training Centre, and Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, reported The Nation.

The CAAT’s vision is to prepare Thailand’s air infrastructure for future economic growth, strengthen and expand air logistics routes to connect with the global network and promote domestic and international tourism.

In related news, the Thailand Ministry of Transport is considering leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance airport operations, in line with the government’s ambition to establish the country as a prominent aviation centre in the region.