AirAsia's CE takes Thailand's pulse

AirAsia group CE Tony Fernandes is calling on Thai authorities to privatise airports as a way to tackle funding and development issues. "I encourage the government to privatise airports to allow new money to come in so these facilities can be developed faster," he said. He branded airport deficiency one of the major bottlenecks to expanding Thailand's aviation industry, particularly in handling fast-growing air traffic spurred by mass tourism. "Don Mueang is almost full, Phuket needs a new airport and Krabi is getting full soon," Fernandes said. The development of secondary and tertiary airports in Thailand also requires prompt attention, said the head of Asia's biggest low-cost carrier in terms of passengers carried. Fernandes has made clear the role that the airline group is playing as part of his advocacy for privatising Thai airports. AirAsia recently began lobbying Thai cabinet ministers to expedite airport plans, warning of how airport deficiencies are impeding air traffic growth. <br/>