Transport officials have suggested that the airport in the Northeast province of Nakhon Ratchasima has the most potential for a new high-tech aircraft maintenance complex.
Nakhon Ratchasima airport (file photo by Prasit Tangprasert)
Woradet Harnprasert, deputy permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry, said on Thursday that Nakhon Ratchasima airport was the best location for the maintenance complex for many reasons.
"Khorat is suitable because it has railways. There will be an inter-city motorway for more convenient transport. The airport has also ceased commercial services," he said.
"Big planes like the Boeing 747 without passengers are able to land and take off there. It is sufficiently equipped for that. The old airport covers about 1,000 rai (1.6 square kilometres) and its runway is 2,500 metres long," Mr Woradet said.
However, the Nakhon Ratchasima airport would need hangars, fueling equipment and bonded warehouses to keep equipment.
U-Tapao airport in the eastern province of Rayong could not house the maintenance complex because government authorities were already using too much of its area, while Bangkok's Don Mueang airport was not a possible site because it was being totally utilised for commercial flight services, Mr Woradet said.
State-run Airports of Thailand Plc has proposed Chiang Rai airport in the North for the aircraft maintenance complex, but Mr Woradet feels it must be located close to Bangkok and be free of commercial flight services.
He also ruled out Phetchabun airport in the North as being too far from the capital.