FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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AOT hires IATA, ICAO for revision of Suvarnabhumi expansion plan

AOT hires IATA, ICAO for revision of Suvarnabhumi expansion plan

Airports of Thailand (AOT) is tapping the expertise of International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to revise the development plan of Suvarnabhumi Airport, a project with a total budget of nearly Bt57 billion.

“We have submitted updated data to IATA and expect them to turn in the revised plan by mid-March, as they have studied this project since November 2019,” said AOT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn.

“Meanwhile, we are negotiating with ICAO for further revision of the IATA’s approved plan. If the ICAO says they cannot wait for IATA to finish, we will ask them to start work on the framework immediately so that the project can start as scheduled.”

Nitinai added that the motion to hire the IATA and ICAO had been proposed at AOT’s board meeting to make sure that the expansion of three terminals at Suvarnabhumi Airport involving an expenditure of nearly Bt57 billion is a viable investment.

The development project includes the expansion of the eastern and western terminals with a budget of Bt7.83 billion per terminal, aiming to increase usable space by 66,000 square metres per terminal to accommodate 15 million passengers per terminal per year, and the expansion of the northern terminal with a budget of Bt41.26 billion, aiming to increase usable space by 348,000sqm to accommodate an additional 30 to 40 million passengers per year.

Nitinai added that the construction of SAT1 building at Suvarnabhumi Airport is nearly 95 per cent finished while the landscaping and interior decorations should be completed within July.

“After the building is finished, we will start installing the APM [Automated People Mover], baggage handling and explosive detection systems before October. The test run of these systems should take six months, therefore the SAT1 building will officially open in April 2022.”

The SAT 1 building is a part of the second phase development of Suvarnabhumi Airport, being undertaken with a budget of Bt62 billion.

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