Thailand’s aviation industry turns COVID-19 crisis into opportunity
Thai authority is using the rare hiatus of the aviation industry caused by the COVID-19 crisis to develop airport facilities in preparation for the post-pandemic world.
Bangkok (VNA) – The COVID-19 crisis has shaken the thriving aviation industry in Thailand and forced it into hibernation. But localauthority is using this rare hiatus to develop airport facilities inpreparation for the post-pandemic world.
Don Mueang, Thailand’s second busiest airport afterSuvarnabhumi, is turning the crisis into an opportunity by improving theinterior of its international terminal while there are no passengers, said airportdirector Sampan Khuntranont.
The pandemic has forced the suspension of domestic andinternational flights, grinding air traffic into and out of Don Mueang airportto a complete halt.
So the airport has decided to push ahead with plans torevamp the interior of the international terminal, costing 126 million THB(3.85 million USD), he said.
The work involves three sub-projects – the 99-million-THBimprovement of the air-conditioning system; a re-carpeting job priced at 18million THB; and a nine-million-THB switch to LED lights to save energy.
The project is expected to begin in July and be completed bythe end of the year.
The airport has reached its maximum capacity of 40 millionpassengers last year. A plan is also afoot to expand Don Mueang largely servedby budget carriers.
Last month, it was reported the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT)board approved a master plan for the third-phase development of Don Mueangairport costing an estimated 39 billion THB.
Earlier this week, the Thai Transport Ministry said it wouldask the cabinet for a 250-million-THB budget to improve and upgrade facilitiesat Hua Hin airport in Prachuab Khiri Khan province to attract internationalairlines once the COVID-19 is contained.
Last year, the Thai cabinet okayed a project to build athird runway at Suvarnabhumi international airport in Bangkok with totalinvestment of nearly 21.8 billion THB (667 million USD).
𒀰 The project, part of the kingdom’s transport developmentplan in the 2015-2022 period, is scheduled to complete in 2021./.
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