The Airport Authority aims for a 4-7% growth in passenger numbers in 2019, moving forward with the expansion of passenger terminals and parking areas in secondary provinces to accommodate the growth of tourists. The installation of an automated baggage screening system is expected to be completed in 2019.

          Ms. Ampawan Wankow, Director-General of the Airports Department, revealed that the air traffic volume across the 28 airports under its management has seen 19 million passengers, with a growth rate of 4% compared to the previous year. It is anticipated that in 2019, the growth rate will be around 4-7%. The Airports Department has plans to develop in line with this continuous growth.

          As for the improvement plans for passenger terminals, last year saw the construction of two new passenger terminals: one at Khon Kaen Airport, with operations scheduled from 2018 to 2021, capable of accommodating 2,000 passengers per hour or 5 million passengers per year, and providing parking for 550 vehicles. There are also plans to expand the aircraft parking area from 2020 to 2022, which will accommodate 11 B737 aircraft simultaneously. At Krabi Airport, an investment of 2.92 billion baht is planned, with operations from 2018 to 2020, allowing for 40 B737 aircraft at the same time.

          The Airports Department has plans to continue developing in line with ongoing growth. The construction of a third passenger terminal, along with a parking building, is scheduled from 2018 to 2021, capable of accommodating 3,000 passengers per hour or 8 million passengers per year, with parking for 2,000 vehicles. In 2019, there are plans to further construct at Trang Airport with an investment of 1.2 billion baht and at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport with an investment of 1.8 billion baht.

          "Currently, there are projects to construct taxiways and aircraft parking areas to enhance efficiency, including Udon Thani Airport with an investment of 159 million baht, Lampang Airport with 84 million baht, Trang Airport with 600 million baht, and Buriram Airport with 102.87 million baht. These plans were initiated last year. For 2020, there are ongoing plans to expand the passenger terminal at Surat Thani Airport with an investment of 180 million baht, and at Buriram Airport, Loei Airport with an investment of 600 million baht, and Roi Et Airport with an investment of 100 million baht," Ms. Ampawan stated.

          Regarding the progress of transferring four airports, including Udon Thani, Tak, Sakon Nakhon, and Chumphon, which are under the Airports Department's management to Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) for administration, there have been meetings with relevant committees, including the Airports Department, AOT, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), and the Office of the Council of State. The meeting tasked the relevant agencies to compile information regarding the supporting legal framework, ensuring compliance with legal regulations.

          Currently, inquiries are being made to the Office of the Council of State for accuracy. A meeting is scheduled for December 19, 2018, to summarize the management transfer approach and will be presented to the Minister of Transport before being submitted to the Cabinet meeting.

          Furthermore, the investment plan for 2019, in accordance with the 20-Year National Strategy, aims to position the airports under the Airports Department as future industries and services through transport and logistics. The department will develop airports as infrastructure connecting Thailand to the world, making Thailand a transportation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, feasibility studies will be conducted for new airport constructions in potential areas. There will also be improvements in security standards according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) through the automated baggage screening system project, expected to be completed in 2019, along with providing free wireless internet at all airports under the Airports Department, to be completed by April 2019.

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