Airports Of Thailand To Push Ahead With Suvarnabhumi Expansion

[Mod]

Airports Of Thailand To Push Ahead With Suvarnabhumi Expansion

BANGKOK: -- Airports of Thailand will go ahead with Phases 3 and 4 of Suvarnabhumi Airport's development to boost its annual capacity to 90 million passengers.

Its annual capacity is now 45 million.

AOT acting president Somchai Sawasdeepon said yesterday that the agency was moving at full steam on the Bt62-billion second phase and construction was expected to be complete by December 2016, boosting capacity to 60 million passengers.

It then plans to expand capacity by another 30 million passenger with Phases 3 and 4. The cost of the third phase is expected to be same as the second's.

Phase 3 will take place from 2016 until 2021, when the airport will be able to serve 75 million visitors. The construction will include the expansion of the passenger building on the west side, the construction of tunnels, a passenger-transport system, and a fourth runway.

Phase 4 will see the construction of a passenger building and a parking bay on the south area and boost capacity to serve total 90 million people through 2032.

In a related matter, AOT chairman Sumet Photimanee said the board would soon convene to set up a committee to select a new president to replace Flying Officer Anirut Thanomkulbutra, whose employment contract was terminated.

The termination, which was part of a board resolution on October 19, will be effective from November 27. The selection is expected to be completed early next year.

The Nation 2012-10-30