BANGKOK: The Thai Department of Airports (DoA) will spend US$192 million to upgrade airports across the country next year under the leadership of new acting director-general, Thawi Kesi-samang.
According to the Bangkok Post, Thawi started working on Monday to launch the initiative for key regional airports, following a briefing on current airport development projects.
Bids would be called for the projects early next year.
Among the projects were the construction of taxiways at Krabi airport, plans for new terminals at Narathiwat and Buri Ram airports respectively, and the expansion of airport bays and the international terminal at Surat Thani International Airport.
There was also an urgent need to step up construction of a new airport in Yala’s Betong district, which is scheduled to open in the middle of next year.
Thawi was handed the directive due to a strong reputation for achieving performance targets in his previous job.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob admired him for meeting goals in road building when Thawi was working with the Highways Department.
The minister also proposed extending the runway length at 38 airports from 2,100 to 2,400m to better cater for large aircraft.
A source at the Airports Department said that the minister wanted Thawi to oversee the 10-year airport development plan, worth US$1.1 billion. Up to US$900 million of the budget would be allocated for upgrades at 17 airports between now and 2022, while the rest would go to further airport development until 2027.
The source also dismissed reports that Thawi’s appointment disappointed some DoA officials, since he was an aviation outsider. They insisted that all DoA staff were ready to work with Thawi for the sake of national interest.
On a proposal to transfer four airports — Krabi, Udon Thani, Tak and Buri Ram — to the private sector, Thawi said there were a number of ways to do so, and that he would choose the option that best served the public’s interest.