A master plan for the third-phase development of Don Mueang international airport is likely to be forwarded to the board of Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) in November, the airport's director said yesterday.
Don Mueang airport director Petch Chancharoen said the blueprint is being drawn up with the aim of increasing the airport's capacity to 40 million passengers a year.
The third phase of the airport, with an estimated investment of 32 billion baht, is expected to be completed in 2022.
"The master plan is likely to be forwarded to the AoT board this November, and to the cabinet in the middle of next year," he said.
If things go as planned, a bid to find contractors is scheduled to proceed in 2019 and the third-phase development will be complete in three years, or in 2022, he said.
Demolition of 11 old buildings in the airport's compound will be carried out from June to August this year to pave the way for the development, he added.
According to Mr Petch, the third-phase plan will upgrade operational efficiency at the airport, including the construction of 12 parking bays north of the airport and a junction terminal.
Another key element of the plan covers an Automated People Mover system to boost the airport's capacity to handle increasing passenger numbers, he said, adding it should also ease congestion at the airport which has caused traffic jams outside.
On the junction terminal project, he said the terminal is initially designed to cover 100,000 square metres with commercial space to boost the airport's non-aviation income from 40% to 50%.
He said due to limited space, Don Mueang airport is unable to expand aviation-related businesses while increases in service fees will affect airlines and passengers.
"We're still considering who should manage the commercial area. AoT Plc is capable of doing it but hiring a private firm may be a better option," he said.
Six airports under the supervision of AoT Plc handled 76.73 million passengers, an increase of 7.3% year-on-year, during October last year to April this year. Don Mueang airport alone handled 21.73 million passengers, rising 9% year-on-year.
In another development, the Department of Airports will seek two billion baht from the mid-year budget for fiscal 2018 to fund Nakhon Si Thammarat airport's expansion.