The top transport official yesterday shot out of the sky any plans to shutter two regional airports after their owner floated the idea.
Banking sharply left from what had been said Monday by the head of Airports of Thailand, transport minister Saksayam Chidchob dismissed the plans to demolish the Hat Yai and Chiang Rai airports in the next few years to save costs.
Saksayam said Hat Yai and Chiang Rai would remain open to support tourism.
On Monday, Airports of Thailand, which owns and operates six airports nationwide, said it wanted to shut the two lesser-used airports down to cut losses.
Chiang Rai, Hat Yai may lose airports due to losses
Saksayam did acknowledge the dire need for airport and plane operators to cut costs as quickly and deeply as possible.
The minister said he offered the airport owner policy suggestions for reducing takeoff, landing and other fees at all their six airports – including Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang – by 50% in a three-month pilot program during the high tourism season. He also suggested policies to struggling Thai Airways in order to generate more revenue and cut costs including hiring plans and employee benefits.
Saksayam did not dispute the substance of what airports President Nitinai Sirismatthakarnthe said or why he was overriding him.
On Monday, Nittinai cited falling passenger levels at both airports and travel preferences for airports that were transit hubs.
More than 4.3 million passengers passed through Hat Yai’s airport two years ago. In 2018, Chiang Rai saw 2.9 million passengers, a significant increase from just the year before. In 2014, AOT announced it would expand the airport after it saw 1 million passengers the year prior.
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