Austria-based Doppelmayr Cable Car, a leading maker of cable cars and gondolas, is keen to be a supplier for Suvarnabhumi airport's inter-terminal rail system, the group's boss said Wednesday.
"The expansion of Suvarnabhumi airport has been discussed for such a long time, and we've been following the progress," chief executive Markus Schrentewein said.
"We're interested in it because we can provide an appropriate transport solution for the airport.
"As the economy continues to grow, airports will be the crucial factor in supporting movements of people."
The group hopes to provide a cable-propelled automated people mover (APM).
This type of train is designed to be pulled by a cable as opposed to a self-propelled train with an onboard motor.
"Our cable-propelled APM uses simple technology, which would help reduce operation and maintenance costs significantly and require very few initial investments," Mr Schrentewein said.
Without an onboard motor, a cable-propelled train requires maintenance only for its ventilation system.
The airport would reap the benefits of cheaper operating, installation and maintenance costs in the long run.
Doppelmayr has yet to receive technical specifications for the project, but the company estimates it could help Thai officials to save as much as 1 billion baht from the offer price.
The Suvarnabhumi rail expansion would be Doppelmayr's first cable-propelled project in Asean.
The company is actively looking for more opportunities to supply its transport systems elsewhere in the region.
Doppelmayr's latest APM was installed at the new international airport in Doha.
In Thailand, Doppelmayr has supplied gondolas for the Hat Yai cable car in Songkhla province.