PATTANI: Villagers are opposing plans to extend the runway at Pattani airport for another 1,100 metres, arguing it would cause major disruption to their communities - including schools and mosques.
Residents said there was plenty of abandoned farmland in the area and the airport should be moved.
They expressed their discontent when authorities called a meeting of residents of Moo 3, 5 and 6 villages in tambon Bo Thong of Nong Chik district on Tuesday to sound out their views on the expansion of the aviation facility, also known as “Bo Thong” airport.
Officials who explained the plan to about 500 villagers included Ek Yangaphai Na Songkhla, chief of Nong Chick district, Abdulkodae Bueraheng, mayor of tambon Bo Thong municipality, Col Hanpol Petmuang, commander of Special Ranger Task Force 43 and Grp Capt Amarit Kanokkaew, chief of Air Task Force 9.
The said the runway was only 1,500 metre long and the airport needed to be brought up to international standards for commercial aviation. This required the runway be extended by 1,100 metres.
This would affect schools, mosques, cemeteries and householders in Ban Padaelanga, Ban Bo Thong and Ban Phai Man.
The villagers called on the authorities to review the project.
It would be better to move the airport, they said. Nong Chik district had hundreds of rai of abandoned fields which could serve as the site for a new airport.
Asked who disagreed with the runway's expansion, all residents present raised their hands.
Grp Capt Amarit said he would raise their concerns with the government.
However, the extension of the runway would cost about 800 million baht, while a new airport would cost about 3 billion baht.
The airport was built by the air force, initially for military use. It was then developed to serve commercial aviation, with Thai Airways Co (TAC) scheduling flights to the airport from 1963.
TAC was later incorporated into Thai Airways International Plc.
The airline struggled make flights between Songkhla and Pattani profitable, due to the low number of passengers. The service was discontinued in 1994.
Currently, Pattani airport serves only smaller charter flights and state agency aircraft, including the military.