Thailand, Vietnam and neighbors compete in airport expansion race
Southeast Asian countries are rushing to expand their major airports to meet rising domestic demand as well as attract foreign investment and travelers to boost economic growth, although some plans are raising concerns about over- investment. According to Nikkei research into expansion plans for airports near the capital cities of seven countries in the region -- Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Cambodia -- total annual passenger handling capacity will reach at least 653m people by 2030, nearly doubling from the 336m people as of January 2023. In Thailand, a satellite terminal opened at Suvarnabhumi Airport near Bangkok in September. The launch comes at "the best time for reviving the domestic economy," Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said at the opening ceremony. He expressed hope that the expansion would contribute to the recovery of Thailand's tourism industry, which was hurt by the pandemic. The terminal can host up to 28 aircraft and handle 15m passengers a year. Once fully operational, the airport's overall capacity will increase by 30% to 60m passengers annually, easing congestion. The airport also expects a third runway to be completed in 2024. It further aims to build a second satellite terminal and another runway by 2030, and increase annual passenger handling capacity to 150m. The Thai government is also planning to expand two other airports, Don Mueang International Airport near Bangkok and U-Tapao Airport, located southeast of the capital. The total capacity of the three airports in the metropolitan area would increase to 200m passengers by 2030. The rush in Thailand and other countries to develop airports is being fueled by the rise of domestic demand amid their growing middle-income class. Air passenger demand in Southeast Asia is expected to nearly triple in the two decades from 2019, according to the Japan Aircraft Development Corporation. The region's average annual growth rate of 4.6% is higher than the global figure of 3.4%. Vietnam will invest nearly 100t dong ($4b) to increase the capacity of Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport to 60m passengers by 2030, 2.5 times its current amount. Story has more.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2023-10-18/general/thailand-vietnam-and-neighbors-compete-in-airport-expansion-race
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Thailand, Vietnam and neighbors compete in airport expansion race
Southeast Asian countries are rushing to expand their major airports to meet rising domestic demand as well as attract foreign investment and travelers to boost economic growth, although some plans are raising concerns about over- investment. According to Nikkei research into expansion plans for airports near the capital cities of seven countries in the region -- Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Cambodia -- total annual passenger handling capacity will reach at least 653m people by 2030, nearly doubling from the 336m people as of January 2023. In Thailand, a satellite terminal opened at Suvarnabhumi Airport near Bangkok in September. The launch comes at "the best time for reviving the domestic economy," Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said at the opening ceremony. He expressed hope that the expansion would contribute to the recovery of Thailand's tourism industry, which was hurt by the pandemic. The terminal can host up to 28 aircraft and handle 15m passengers a year. Once fully operational, the airport's overall capacity will increase by 30% to 60m passengers annually, easing congestion. The airport also expects a third runway to be completed in 2024. It further aims to build a second satellite terminal and another runway by 2030, and increase annual passenger handling capacity to 150m. The Thai government is also planning to expand two other airports, Don Mueang International Airport near Bangkok and U-Tapao Airport, located southeast of the capital. The total capacity of the three airports in the metropolitan area would increase to 200m passengers by 2030. The rush in Thailand and other countries to develop airports is being fueled by the rise of domestic demand amid their growing middle-income class. Air passenger demand in Southeast Asia is expected to nearly triple in the two decades from 2019, according to the Japan Aircraft Development Corporation. The region's average annual growth rate of 4.6% is higher than the global figure of 3.4%. Vietnam will invest nearly 100t dong ($4b) to increase the capacity of Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport to 60m passengers by 2030, 2.5 times its current amount. Story has more.<br/>
