Bangkok Air shares near 7-year high on Koh Samui airport expansion

Shares of Bangkok Airways have soared to their highest in about seven years as it moves to lay the groundwork for welcoming more tourists to Thailand. The private-sector airline recently revealed plans to enlarge its airport on the southern island of Koh Samui in the next two to three years, investing 1.5b baht ($41.3m). Four boarding gates will be added, bringing the total to 11, as well as 10 more check-in counters. The airline also plans to expand the shopping area. Koh Samui is one of Thailand's leading resort destinations for foreigners. The routes are a cash cow for Bangkok Airways, accounting for nearly 60% of its sales. The airline also plans to invest 700m to 800m baht to expand Trat Airport in eastern Thailand. The runway will be extended, allowing larger passenger aircraft such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s to land there. Bangkok Airways shares rose nearly 1% Wednesday to close at 20.60 baht on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The airline operated 20 routes as of April, 12 of them domestic and eight international.<br/>