Five airlines have demanded that Airports of Thailand (AoT) stop treating them unfairly by not giving them incentives to operate out of Don Mueang airport.
AoT announced that it will grant three-year discounts on airport fees to 14 airlines if they agree to relocate to the aging Don Mueang airport facility as part of a strategy to ease congestion at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Cabinet last week approved the reactivation of Don Mueang, nearly a year after it was inundated by floodwaters.
Nok Air, Nok Mini (Siam General Aviation), Orient Thai, Solar Air and M Jet were all angered when they learned they would be excluded from the incentives. Representing the five airlines, Nok Air chief executive officer Patee Sarasin met with Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan to discuss the issue, the Bangkok Post reported.
“Giving incentives to only the 14 airlines will result in unfair competition among the airlines,” Mr. Patee said.
“This is unfair and we demand the government consider granting incentives equally to every airline at Don Mueang airport,” he added.
AoT President Anirut Thanomkulbutra argued that because the five airlines had only moved to Suvarnabhumi during the flood crisis – and because Nok Air and M Jet have moved back to Don Mueang when it reopened in March – they do not qualify for incentives. He added that according to AoT criteria for granting discounts, airlines must be budget carriers and offer point-to-point flights – Nok Air, and M Jet do not fall in that category, he said.
Transportation Minister Jarupong said that he is willing to listen to both sides.
AoT is offering 95 percent discounts covering take-off, landing and hangar fees if the airlines use Don Mueang from August 1 to September 30, while Suvarnabhumi undergoes repairs.
