Phuket Airport to get first woman director

PHUKET: Phuket International Airport will mark history tomorrow when Duangchai Condee arrives to take up the post of Director.

Ms Duangchai, a senior executive at Airports of Thailand, will leave her position as Deputy Director (Commercial) at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to become the first woman to hold the top position in Phuket.

Ms Duangchai, who has received the Thai chivalric title of Companion (fourth class) of the Order of the White Elephant, will replace Acting Flying Officer Passakorn Surapipith.

Mr Passakorn took charge after former director Prathuang Sornkham was summarily transferred on January 20.

Mr Prathuang was transferred to a position in Bangkok, pending an ongoing investigation into an incident last October when Paraguay nationals were allegedly allowed to leave the country without passports via Phuket Airport.

It was reported at the time that some of the passengers allowed to leave country were known to be involved in drugs.

Mr Passakorn will return to Suvarnabhumi Airport, where he will take up the position of deputy director.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan