Udon Thani Airport’s Passenger Terminal Enlargement Completed

UDON THANI, Sept 20 (TNA) - Transport Minister Arkhom Termpitayapaisith on Sunday presided over an opening ceremony of the newly- extended passenger terminal at Udon Thani International Airport, in time to cater to the government-sponsored special economic zone (SEZ) and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) which is due to be launched at this year-end. Besides high-ranking government officers, prominent businessmen in the province and commercial airlines operators also attended the event. Mr. Arkhom said the state-run Civil Aviation Department had received a government budget to refurbish the passenger terminal at the airport. Previously, the passenger terminal could accommodate 400 passengers per hour during a heavy traffic, but the enlargement allows it to cater a maximum of 1,200 passengers per hour. The newly – extended terminal is equipped with several facilities including lounge rooms for arrival and departure passengers, an elevator for disabled, an escalator, a complete security system, restaurants and shopping stores. Presently, five commercial airlines are serving from the airport with their combined daily flights of 48. More than 1.4 million passengers used the airport since the beginning of 2015. Udon Thani International Airport is located near the SEZ in Nong Khai province opposite the Laotian capital of Vientiane and it is hoped that the number of passengers using it would increase upon the implementation of AEC. (TNA)