Deputy PM wants airport congestion to end in 3 months

BANGOK, March 8 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak ordered Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) to relieve congestion at its airports in three months while supporting the construction of second airports in popular tourist provinces. Meeting AOT executives, Mr Somkid said airport congestion caused trouble to visitors so he wanted the problem to end at major airports such as Suvarnabhumi airport in three months. For the provinces that are popular tourist destinations like Chiang Mai, Mr Somkid said they should have their second airports. He also suggested AOT take over either Hua Hin airport or Chumphon airport to support coastal tourism development in the upper South. AOT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said that Suvarnabhumi airport would have more baggage search areas. He also said that AOT planned to build the second airport of Chiang Mai and a new airport in Phang Nga province. The new airport in Phang Nga is estimated to cost 70 billion baht and the project in Chiang Mai will need 50 billion baht. Mr Nitinai also said that Mr Somkid wanted AOT to decide on the takeover of either Hua Hin or Chumphon airport in seven months. Both airports are under the Department of Airports. (TNA)