The Airports Department is considering expanding an airport in Pai district to service bigger planes to woo more tourists to the town.

Department director-general Darun Saengchai said on Thursday the agency will study options to allow investors to play a role by jointly investing and operating the airport, or allowing them to manage the airport after the expansion plan completes.

Pai airport in Mae Hong Son has only one runway and can accommodate two small planes. Kan Air is the only airline offers regular flights connecting the district with Chiang Mai by using a 12-seat single-engine Cessna jet.

Tourism operators in Pai have proposed to the government to enlarge the airport due to growing popularity of the district among local and foreign tourists.