After bringing down the prices of drinking water, officials are turning their attention to the exorbitant food prices at Don Mueang airport.
Officials, led by ombudsman Wittawat Ratchatanan and Don Mueang airport general manager Phet Cha-charoen, held talks with other related agencies, including the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, on Tuesday to tackle complaints about expensive food prices at the airport.
The meeting followed the success of the airport and the Internal Trade Department in convincing shops at Don Mueang to lower the prices for bottled drinking water to 10 baht from 30 baht on Sunday.
They agreed to leave the new assignment to Mr Phet and his subordinates at Don Mueang to convince food shops and restaurants there to lower the prices of meals so they start at 50 baht starting April 10. It will be a gift for people during the forthcoming Songkran holidays.
Citing as an example, Gen Wittawat said rice with roasted duck cost 159 baht a plate and people should not pay the price for a cheaper dish.
"There are many factors that make food expensive — from rents and other expenses like security and public utility cost. But they have to sort these out among themselves," he said. "In any case, the taste and quality of a dish at 50 baht have to be reasonable."
The ombudsman indicated stick measures if the owners of restaurants and food shops at Don Mueang fail to "cooperate". The Internal Trade Department law could be enforced against them and it carries the maximum jail term of seven years and a fine up to 140,000 baht, he added. The law was enacted in 1999 to protect consumers and keep fair prices.
Don Mueang, home to low-cost airlines mostly operating domestic flights, has been picked because it mainly serves local passengers.
The next target will be Suvarnabhumi airport, he added.