Thailand: Suvarnabhumi plan awaits govt nod

The Transport Ministry is seeking the government's approval to carry out Suvarnabhumi airport's East Expansion project, which will increase the passenger handling capacity of Thailand's main aviation gateway. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said Airports of Thailand (AoT) has enlisted the help of the International Air Transport Association (Iata) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to revise the blueprint of Suvarnabhumi airport's expansion — a project which would cost the government an estimated 57 billion baht. Iata has concluded its study, while the ICAO has yet to submit its findings, the minister said. To prevent further delays in the airport's development, the ministry will ask a government committee overseeing the airport's expansion to allow the East Expansion project to proceed. Once the committee — chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul — approves the request, the project's proposal will be forwarded to the cabinet for endorsement. Work on the project could begin as soon as it is endorsed by the cabinet. The East Expansion project, which will increase the passenger handling capacity of Terminal 1 at Suvarnabhumi, had earlier been approved by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). As for the airport's North Expansion, Saksayam said it will need to be jointly discussed between the AoT and the NESDC, taking into consideration an ICAO study on the matter. <br/>