Oct. 08--Don Mueang may be expanded and reopened as a full service airport to rival Suvarnabhumi by 2015, Airports of Thailand vice chairman Pongsak Semson said.
AoT is renovating terminals 1 and 2 at Don Mueang and the runways to expand its handling capacity to 30 million passengers a year within two years.
Don Mueang currently operates only terminal 1 for budget airlines for domestic and international flights on point to point service, to ease the pressure on crowded Suvarnabhumi, which was opened in 2006 and now handles more passengers than its planned annual 45 million capacity.
AoT will seek government approval to upgrade Don Mueang and ease regulations and rules to allow all airlines to use it, including those keen to use it for connecting flights.
Operating dual international airports for Bangkok -- Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi -- follows the example already set by many countries, he said.
One country which the AoT follows is Japan, which has two airports serving Tokyo, Haneda and Narita airports, Mr Pongsak said.
Suvarnabhumi is currently designated as Bangkok's only major airport, and Don Mueang was reopened to supplement it.
But Don Mueang could compete foir flights with Suvarnabhumi as it has an edge in being located closer to Bangkok, he added.
The old airport was first used for chartered flights after Bangkok opened Suvarnabhumi airport and then reopened for low-cost airlines in 2011 after Suvarnabhumi became congested.
Don Mueang can currently handle up to 16 million a year, its website says.
The Don Mueang plan has received backing from AoT chairman Sqn Ldr Sita Divari and a cautious reaction from Transport Minister Chadchart Suttipunt.
Mr Chadchart said he will not stand in the way of the plan to upgrade the status of Don Mueang, but there should be a thorough study on it. The relocation of other airlines to Don Mueang, if the plan were approved, must be voluntarily, the minister added.
Don Mueang now serves Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Orient Thai Airlines.
Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive officer of Thai AirAsia, said he supported the plan and urged the government to make it clear, so that all airlines could make appropriate plans.
Suvarnabhumi could not grow in tandem with the rapidly growing aviation industry, he added.
Copyright 2013 - Bangkok Post, Thailand
