The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) is gearing up to become a regional hub for aviation and tourism, aiming to rank among the top 20 airports in the world.
In mid-November, AOT organized the AOT Sister Airport CEO Forum 2024, themed “Embracing the Next Chapter in the Aviation Industry”. The forum highlighted the readiness of Thai airports to tackle future challenges and adapt to industry changes.
The event was part of the Sister Airport Agreement (SAA), a collaboration between AOT and 18 partner airports. This agreement focuses on enhancing preparedness for future challenges and promoting sustainable development within the aviation industry.
Through initiatives like this, AOT aims to reinforce Thailand’s position as a global leader in aviation and tourism.
Strategy for Developing Thai Airports Towards Becoming a Regional Aviation Hub and Ranking Among the Top 20 Airports Globally
Infrastructure Development
- Suvarnabhumi Airportaccelerating the master plan to handle up to 150 million passengers annually.
- Operational improvements include the opening of the third runway, increasing capacity from 68 flights per hour to 94 flights per hour.
- The East Terminal Expansion project boosts passenger capacity to 80 million per year.
- Construction of the South Terminal adds capacity for another 70 million passengers annually.
- Planning for a fourth runway to further increase flight handling capacity to 120 flights per hour.
- Don Mueang Airport expanding to support 40 million passengers per year, with a maximum capacity of 50 million.
- Developing a new international terminal and the Junction Building, which will directly connect to the Red Line railway. This facility will include parking, recreational, and commercial spaces. Aircraft Maintenance and Future Airport Development
- Establishing an Aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) center to enhance operational capabilities.
- Exploring plans for new airports, such as Andaman Airport and Lanna Airport, to further strengthen Thailand’s aviation hub status.
- Studying the feasibility of a Seaplane & Ferry Terminal to enable luxury air-sea travel and accommodate seaplane operations.
Sustainability (Green Airport) Initiatives
- Clean Energy Use: Suvarnabhumi Airport has become the first environmentally friendly international airport in Thailand, using clean energy to produce 37.81 MW of electricity. This initiative will reduce CO2 emissions by 555,686.271 tons (tCO2e) over the 20-year lifespan of the project, and cut energy costs by up to 25%.
- Electric Vehicles (EV) Transition: AOT is transitioning all airport vehicles to an electric vehicle system. This includes promoting the use of electric taxis to serve passengers and installing EV charging stations for public electric buses.
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) : AOT is prioritizing the provision of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with plans for significant investment in petroleum and research. The goal is to begin offering SAF to aircraft entering and leaving Thailand within three years and to establish Thailand as a regional hub for SAF production and distribution.
Source: Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) – Newsroom
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