Airport
- Thailand News
Trang Airport terminal to open by late 2025 amid project delays
The Transport Ministry directed an expedited effort to complete the new passenger terminal at Trang Airport, aiming for its operation by the close of next year. This directive comes from Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri, following a petition from a civic group in the southern province urging the government to resume the 1.6-billion-baht project, halted by the contractor about six…
- Thailand News
Phatthalung plans airport to become Thailand’s logistics hub
Officials in Phatthalung are gearing up to transform the province into a bustling logistics hub in southern Thailand with plans to construct a new airport. This ambitious initiative, aimed at elevating the province’s economic profile, is anticipated to be presented to the Cabinet soon. A major step forward was taken when the Phatthalung governor submitted a formal request to the…
- Thailand News
AOT profits soar sky-high, eight-month bonus approved for staff
Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) has seen a significant profit surge, prompting the board to approve an eight-month bonus for employees, an increase from last year. This decision comes as a result of the government’s free visa policy, which has significantly boosted tourism. AOT, which manages six airports across the country, experienced a notable increase in air traffic…
- South Thailand News
Trang Airport terminal’s delay spikes airfares, tourism at risk
Rath Pooklang, head of the Trang People’s Voice Network, met with Deputy Minister of Transport, Manop Charoensri, urging immediate action on the stalled construction of the new passenger terminal at Trang International Airport, alongside addressing exorbitant airfares affecting tourism. Rath and his civic team travelled to Bangkok to present a letter to the deputy minister, highlighting the need for an…
- Phuket News
Phuket expects Kazakhstani tourist surge from new direct flights
Phuket anticipates a surge in Kazakhstani tourists with the inauguration of direct flights from the Central Asian country’s remote capital, Astana. Air Astana is operating the service, and the maiden direct flight, KC163, departed from Kazakhstan and arrived in the southern island province yesterday, October 27. Suladda Sarutilavan, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Europe region, stated that the…
- Thailand News
Andaman International Airport ready for takeoff by 2030
The House Committee for Transportation is actively monitoring the progress of Andaman International Airport‘s construction in Phang Nga, which is set to open by 2030. Committee chairman Kroomanit Sangpoom, a Pheu Thai MP for Surin, announced that panel members inspected the project site in Khok Kloi and Lo Yung sub-districts of Takua Thung district. This visit aimed to assess the…
- Thailand News
Nigerian returning from Thailand nabbed with massive heroin haul
In a dramatic crackdown on drug smuggling, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a Thailand returnee at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Nigeria, unmasking a heroin haul worth over 3.2 billion Nigerian nairas (approximately 65 million baht). The suspect, Oguejiofor Nnaemeka Simonpeter, a 29 year old mechanical engineering graduate, was caught red-handed attempting to…
- Business News
Thai Airways’ growth strategy takes off
Thai Airways International (THAI) is set to transform some of its business units into subsidiaries as part of its growth strategy. Chai Eamsiri, THAI President, announced the plan, emphasising the potential for various business units to operate independently. Chai highlighted the initial focus on the aircraft maintenance and catering divisions, which boast an estimated average profit margin of nearly 20%…
- Thailand News
Heavy rain causes severe flooding in Don Mueang
Heavy rainfall has caused significant flooding in Don Mueang, affecting residential areas and main roads. Some homes have already been inundated. Don Mueang International Airport has advised travellers to allow an additional three to four hours for their journey. Recent reports indicate that heavy rain has hit multiple areas across Bangkok, leading to widespread flooding. Don Mueang district has been…
- Thailand News
Phatthalung unveils 71 billion baht airport plan to boost tourism
A plot of land spanning 1,496 rai near Songkhla Lake in Phatthalung has been earmarked for constructing a new airport, aimed at boosting tourism and transport in the southern province and its neighbours. Anticipated to become a central hub for Phatthalung, Songkhla, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, the land in Khuan Maphrao subdistrict, Mueang district is owned by the Department of…
- Transport News
New 3.5 kilometres runway at U-Tapao airport to begin construction
U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport is set to commence construction of its second runway this year. The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is currently seeking a loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to fund the project. Italian-Thai Development (ITD) has been chosen as the contractor for the runway, according to Chula Sukmanop, secretary-general of the EEC. The project is being…
- Thailand News
£5m UK cannabis bust leaves Thai holidaymakers feeling high and dry
In a dramatic bust at Birmingham Airport in the UK, a staggering 5 million pounds (around 225 million baht) worth of cannabis was uncovered in just one day, as Thai holidaymakers flooded the terminal. A whopping 510 kilogrammes of the drug were found stashed in 28 suitcases on August 9, leading to the arrest of 11 British travellers who had…
- Thailand News
Thailand enhances air navigation services, surge in China flights
Transport Deputy Minister Surapong Piyachote announced Thailand’s pledge to streamline the efficiency of its air navigation services and related aviation solutions in routing, and emergency scenarios. This commitment aligns with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s national development policies, which prioritise improving aviation as a key agenda for progress. This announcement comes in response to a report showing a significant surge in…
- Business News
Thailand targets top 20 ranking for Suvarnabhumi Airport by 2029
The Ministry of Transport is aiming to elevate Suvarnabhumi International Airport into the world’s top 20 airports by 2029, aligning with the government’s ambition to make Thailand a global aviation hub, according to government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit set the target following Suvarnabhumi Airport’s ranking of 58th on the 2024 World’s Best…
- Thailand News
Koh Samui looks for extended airport hours amid tourism surge
Tourism operators in Koh Samui are anticipating a surge in European visitors as the high season for the Gulf of Thailand approaches, advocating for extended operating hours at Samui airport to accommodate 20 additional daily flights, potentially boosting tourist numbers by 10 to 20%. President of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, highlighted expectations for a complete recovery…
- Phuket News
Phuket flight fiasco: Downpour delays leave one still in the clouds
Phuket International Airport confirmed that only one of the 17 flights delayed by yesterday’s downpours has yet to complete its journey. To mitigate any dangers posed by landing in intense weather conditions, inbound flights were diverted to Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi International Airports, as well as airports in Krabi, Langkawi, Penang, and Surat Thani as pilots had no vision of…
- Thailand News
Thailand plans Formula One circuit near U-Tapao airport by 2028
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced plans to construct a Formula One racing circuit near U-Tapao Airport in Rayong province within the next three to four years. The prime minister shared this vision after meeting with Formula One Group executives in Milan yesterday. The 62 year old prime minister emphasised the importance of international sporting events for boosting tourism, expressing the…
- Thailand News
PM Srettha’s plan to rename Hua Hin Airport
During a visit to Hua Hin yesterday, Prime Minister Srettha revealed his support for renaming the airport to Phetch-Hua Hin. This strategic move aims to highlight the adjoining province of Phetchaburi and tap into its potential as a tourist hotspot. Currently situated in the Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Hua Hin Airport is positioned right on the…
- Thailand News
Bangkok taxi meter scam outcry after 1,800 baht airport fare
A recent social media post sparked an outcry over alleged taxi meter fraud in Bangkok. A passenger complaint was highlighted, claiming an overcharge for a ride from Bang Khae to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, where the fare meter read an exorbitant 1,800 baht. The incident has raised concerns about overcharging and exploitation of foreigners by taxi drivers in the city. Bangkok’s…
- Thailand News
Purrilous pickle: AOT warns pet owners after airport cat caper
Airports of Thailand (AOT) issued a stern warning to pet owners not to let their cats roam free in airport areas to prevent potential damage and ensure the safety of travellers. This announcement follows an incident at Suvarnabhumi International Airport where a cat was filmed wandering the premises without supervision. The feline in question, an orange cat named Nuarang became…
- Thailand News
AoT plans to boost Suvarnabhumi Airport into world’s top 50
Airports of Thailand (AoT) disclosed plans to elevate Suvarnabhumi International Airport into the league of the world’s top 50 airports within a year and subsequently to the top 20 by 2028. This announcement was made by AoT Director Kirati Kijmanawat. The director shared that Suvarnabhumi International Airport currently ranks 58th in Skytrax’s World’s Best Airport Rankings for 2024, a significant…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s major airports plan US$4.8 billion capacity doubling
Two of Thailand’s main airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, are set to undergo significant expansions. The Airports of Thailand (AOT) Public Company Limited intends to invest approximately US$4.8 billion to more than double the airports’ capacity by the end of the decade. The expansion aims to accommodate a predicted surge in tourism as the world recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.…
- Business News
Thailand’s tourism seeks boost after Cabinet reshuffle cooperation
Following the recent Cabinet reshuffle, Thailand’s tourism operators are urging for enhanced cooperation among ministries and related authorities to sustain the country’s transformation into a tourism and aviation hub. Khao San Road Business Association President Sanga Ruangwattanakul asserted that the Cabinet reshuffle would not destabilise the government, provided its key policies, particularly the 2030 Ignite Thailand vision, are sustained. This…
- Thailand News
Thai PM announces feasibility study for Samui Airport expansion
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced yesterday that a feasibility study for the expansion of Samui Airport is currently being conducted. The proposed expansion aims to accommodate larger aircraft and an increasing number of visitors. PM Srettha, accompanied by Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol and Deputy Agriculture Minister Chaiya Promma, conducted an official visit to the airport as part of…
- Thailand News
Plans for new airport in northern Thailand set to take off
Plans are underway for a new airport construction in Phayao, a province in northern Thailand. The project, expected to cost approximately 2 billion baht, is part of a broader initiative to transform Phayao into a primary tourist destination. Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, along with his delegates, yesterday, March 18, scouted potential sites within the regions of tambon Don Si…
- Thailand News
Wheel deal: Wheelchair activist challenges airline’s boarding ban
A complaint has been lodged against an airline by an activist bound by a wheelchair, after the airline prohibited him from boarding, arguing that he did not have an escort. Kritsana Lalai, representing the Network for Transport Mobility for All, presented his complaint to Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister for Social Development and Human Security. Reacting to the situation, the minister…
- Thailand News
New airport planned for Kalasin to boost tourism and exports
Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, has endorsed the proposition of constructing a new airport in the northeastern province of Kalasin. While touring the region recently, PM Srettha indicated that the government has reserved funds for a feasibility study concerning the airport. The results of this study will guide the government’s next steps. The district of Yang Talat…
- Business News
Thailand’s aviation hub plans receive airline approval
The Thai government’s initiative to transform the country into an aviation and logistics hub has been met with approval from airlines. However, concerns regarding congestion at major airports and the significant investment required to accommodate increasing demand persist. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently unveiled plans to capitalise on Thailand’s strategic location in Southeast Asia to attract more international airlines to…
- Thailand News
Samui Airport sees remarkable surge in tourist arrivals in 2023
The year 2023 witnessed an outstanding surge in tourist arrivals at Samui Airport, in Thailand, with 2.2 million holidaymakers marking their footprints on the east coast island. The figure indicates a significant 66.65% increase compared to the previous year’s numbers. Located in the Surat Thani province, the Koh Samui district is home to Samui Airport. The district’s director, Jirawat Wutthiwatworakun,…
- Thailand News
Rayong: Residents draw the line against U-Tapao Airport noise nightmare
Nearly 500 households in Ban Chang district, Rayong, united against the U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya International Airport expansion. The bone-rattling aircraft noise has reached a fever pitch, and tensions are soaring as authorities remain deaf to their pleas. The community, armed with determination, has drawn the line with an imminent demonstration at U-Tapao Airport. Chawalit Romruen, the headman of the Samnakthon sub-district, alongside Prasert…
