Thailand's aviation sector prepares for AEC

BANGKOK, March 29 (TNA) - Thailand's aviation sector is preparing for the establishment of a single community of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by 2015. Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sitthipan said Thursday, when opening a seminar in Bangkok held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the launch of Thailand's air transport services under the Ministry of Transport, that he has instructed all agencies concerned to prepare for the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) over the next three years, covering studies on ways to boost the number of international visitors to Thailand via global airlines and on the further development of national infrastructure to sufficiently and efficiently cater free travels regionwide. Chatchart suggested that the planned phase 2 expansion of Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi International Airport be timely implemented to ease its congestion and Bangkok's Don Muang Airport be further utilized, as the former Thai international airport, but now a main domestic airport, has served only 120 flights daily, from its full capacity of up to 300 flights daily. Meanwhile, Aniruth Thanombutr, President of Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), acknowledged that the Suvarnabhumi International Airport has now served nearly 50 million global passengers annually, from its full capacity of some 45 million. Aniruth estimated that some additional 10,000 international passengers will use the Suvarnabhumi Airport daily during the upcoming traditional Thai New Year, known as Songkran Festival, next month, from 150,000-160,000 passengers a day normally, saying that he has, therefore, ordered all parties concerned, including airport security and public relations officers, to be prepared for the surge in the international visitors to Thailand during the annual Songkran Festival, especially in mid-April. (TNA)