The Royal Thai Navy opposes the government's plan to boost the commercial passenger capacity at the navy's U-tapao airport in Rayong province.
The proposal aims to develop the airport as part of the Transport Ministry's plan to ease airport and air traffic congestion at other airports across the country.
Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree, permanent secretary for transport, yesterday unveiled the navy's opposition to the proposal.
The cabinet issued a resolution on June 26 last year to develop the U-tapao airport to increase its commercial capacity.
However, Pol Gen Wichean said the navy stated that U-Tapao is its only airport and the full-scale commercial development of it would compromise national security.
The navy said it is using half of the airport for flight training.
Pol Gen Wichean said the navy would allow the ministry to use U-tapao airport only when aircraft are unable to land at Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi airport.
Currently, the navy opens a section of U-tapao airport for commercial services. The airport accommodates chartered flights as well as Bangkok Airways flights. U-tapao airport can handle 79,000 passengers a year.
The government's Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development proposed a project worth 239 million baht to expand the airport's passenger terminal and aircraft parking areas to boost services.
Pol Gen Wichean said Transport Minister Chadchat Sittipunt will discuss the air transport master plan with public and private aviation authorities next Monday.
Pol Gen Wichean said the plan would lead to improved commercial air transport services and would include improvements to 28 regional airports.
"The National Economic and Social Advisory Council earlier proposed the cabinet handle congestion in air transport as a national agenda item," he said.
"It is a major problem that the government must solve urgently because Thailand is attracting a large number of tourists and is a centre of regional aviation."
He said the cabinet acknowledges the problem and has asked the ministry to develop the plan.