Finance backs spin-off of Airport Link from SRT

The idea is that Airport Link will become a state enterprise.
Prasong Poontaneat, director-general of the ministry’s State Enterprise Policy Office, yesterday said that the Transport Ministry early next year would submit a proposal to the Finance Ministry with solutions for enhancing Airport Link’s management efficiency, before forwarding it to the Cabinet.
The Finance Ministry has agreed to the office’s proposed spin-off of Airport Link from the SRT, he said.
Currently, all key decisions about Airport Link’s direction or operations have to be passed by two boards: first by the SRT, and then by its own board. This has resulted in a lack of flexibility and poor management efficiency.
“At present, Airport Link is one of the SRT’s operations. So, any work direction has to gain approval from the SRT and Airport Link boards. If we can separate its management clearly, we believe Airport Link’s management will become more efficient,” Prasong said.
Once Airport Link is spun off as a state enterprise, the Finance Ministry will hold a 100-per-cent stake in the entity. When the performance of the SRT improves and it has capability to buy back Airport Link, the ministry will give it the opportunity to do so, he added.
Meanwhile, Prasong said Airport Link could pursue an additional investment plan, connecting its current route to Don Mueang Airport and also extending it to Sattahip Airport. A feasibility study is under way.
It is reported that Airport Link has seen a 10-per-cent reduction in usage, due partly to AirAsia’s move this year from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Mueang.
The business has not yet decided whether to extend the all-route fare of Bt20, which is due |to expire on December 31.