Thailand Takes a Giant Leap Closer to Becoming ASEAN’s Premiere Aviation Hub

[webfact]

Thailand Takes a Giant Leap Closer to Becoming ASEAN’s Premiere Aviation Hub

ANDREW J WOOD

Photos: AJ WOOD ©️

 

 

BANGKOK: A recently approved $45 billion investment in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is set to solidify the country’s position as ASEAN’s regional aerospace hub.

 

The Eastern Economic Corridor bill will earmark these funds for the general development of the region, including, most notably, U-Tapao’s future Aeropolis – an entire city infrastructure built around said airport – and will likely help Thailand surpass the USD $9.3 billion of foreign investment the country drew in 2017 for the EEC. The earmarked funds will also cover the construction of a motorway, deep sea ports, a high-speed railway linking the country’s three major airports (Suvarnabhumi, U-Tapao, and Don Mueang), and other infrastructural developments.

 

“As one of the most visited countries in the world year after year, Thailand is ready to embrace its future as the most significant aerospace hub in the ASEAN region,” says Mr. Chokedee Kaewsang, Deputy Secretary General of Thailand Board of Investment. “The passing of the EEC bill is an exciting development, and we look forward to our country’s aerospace sector continuing its meteoric growth in the coming years.”

 

 

Thailand’s aerospace industry is growing exponentially. Currently, its air traffic is rising at a rate three times faster than the global market, doubling every 15 years since the early 1980s. The EEC Aeropolis, projected to be in place by 2023, will relieve some of the swell of tourists expected to continue travelling through Thailand’s main airports. Anchored by U-Tapao Airport, it will also include free trade, logistics, and airport industry areas, as well as an airline MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) Centre and several other features to ameliorate the anticipated volume of travellers. An inner ring, extending 10 kilometres out from U-Tapao Airport, will host the Aeropolis’ city infrastructure, while the outer ring is where logistics activity will take place and connect resident companies with logistics infrastructure in Chon Buri, Chachoengsao and Rayong.

 

The EEC Aeropolis project also strengthens Thailand’s already significant MRO capabilities. Thailand’s MRO expenditure is expected to reach a total of USD $10.6 billion through 2024, and the top five components produced in Thailand (wheels and brakes, APU, IFE components, engine-fuel and control, and landing gear) is forecasted to generate more than USD $1.7 billion through the same time period. Major aerospace companies already present in Thailand’s EEC include Chromalloy, which supports commercial aviation engine manufacturers, and TurbineAero, which was chosen in February by Boeing to provide aftermarket support in the Asia Pacific region.

 

In March, the Thai government hosted a group of international journalists and investors to attend a seminar titled “Thailand Taking Off to New Heights,” which draw over 3,000 participants, including Thai and foreign investors, international press and government agencies, and guided them on a visit to the EEC area and U-Tapao soon-to-be Aeropolis site. A delegation from the Thailand Board of Investment, led by Mr. Salil Wisalswadi, Acting Executive Advisor of Thailand Board of Investment, will also be attending the MRO Americas trade show in April 2018 to provide more information on investment opportunities in aerospace and MRO sector in Thailand.

 

“Considering our country’s strengths, we look forward to attending MRO Americas next month and speaking with industry professionals about the numerous opportunities available to North American aerospace companies in Thailand,” added Mr. Kaewsang.

 

As has been the trend for the last several years, major foreign investment activity into Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor continues to expand, and February was a particularly busy month for the Thai aviation sector.

 

 

In February, Rolls Royce signed an agreement with Thai Airways to offer testbed capacity for the airline, a move the company described as a crucial building block to their growth in the ASEAN region. That same month, Airbus announced a partnership with Thai Aviation Industries in which Airbus will support all of Thailand’s law enforcement and military helicopters for the next two years. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, also announced that Thai Aviation Services would serve as its Customer Support Center.

 

“Recently ranked the least miserable country in the world by Bloomberg, Thailand offers international aerospace companies a high quality of life, access to a skilled and talented workforce, and a business-friendly climate,” concluded Mr. Kaewsang. “We look forward to seeing our peers at MRO Americas in April and sharing the strengths of our aviation sector with them in person.”

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-04-06

[NutsMango]

http://to70.com/red-flag-audit-helps-thailand-to-achieve-a-new-level-in-aviation-safety/

 

Category 2 hub

[kannot]

Rolls  Royce hmmmmmmmmmmmmm how much have they had to pay in bribes for that then???

[evadgib]

Will routes to or from Samui be included...?

Edited April 6, 2018 by evadgib

[JAG]

By 2023 eh?

 

5 years?

[JOC]

1 hour ago, evadgib said:

Will routes to or from Samui be included...?

The airport on Samui is owned by Bangkok Airways.......They invested before Samui became a major destination.....Only fair, that they are cashing in..

If the government    (AOT) wants to change it....they can either build their own airport or buy the existing one from Bangkok Airways....

[mok199]

well after Thailand <deleted> up everything on the ground..it just makes sense..

[Airbagwill]

14 hours ago, JOC said:

The airport on Samui is owned by Bangkok Airways.......They invested before Samui became a major destination.....Only fair, that they are cashing in..

If the government    (AOT) wants to change it....they can either build their own airport or buy the existing one from Bangkok Airways....

..Or they can legislate against a monopoly that is not in the public's interest.

Which they have to some extent, by compelling Bangkok Air to offer discount tickets, which they have openly done from time to time.

Samui was well established as a holiday destination when the airport opened and it might be helpful to look at how the land for the airport was acquired.

One might also consider the site's suitability for high volume traffic or larger planes. ... especially from a safety point of view and also noise pollution.

[BEngBKK]

No. 1 in the world with most deadly roads...

Some say it is more safe to fly than to drive....

Soon Thailand will prove they are wrong...

Edited April 7, 2018 by BEngBKK

[Krataiboy]

Sheer HUBris.

[Darcula]

A giant leap - within this article.

 

23 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand Takes a Giant Leap Closer to Becoming ASEAN’s Premiere Aviation Hub

 

Not yet a hub.

 

23 hours ago, webfact said:

A recently approved $45 billion investment in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is set to solidify the country’s position as ASEAN’s regional aerospace hub.

 

Already a hub.

 

[coulson]

On 4/6/2018 at 4:10 PM, webfact said:

Thailand offers international aerospace companies a high quality of life, access to a skilled and talented workforce, and a business-friendly climate,

No comment

[Cadbury]

On 06/04/2018 at 3:10 PM, webfact said:

The earmarked funds will also cover the construction of a motorway, deep sea ports, a high-speed railway linking the country’s three major airports and other infrastructural developments.

Increasing the immigration counters and available staff might be too much to expect. That will be at the bottom of the to do list as it is an expense rather than part of the income stream of the development. Customer service has a much lower priority to getting a return on investment.

[tso310]

The days of Bangkok being the hub that it was in the 80s are long gone. The ME3 and aircraft like the 787 and A350 have killed that. However the growth in domestic demand and  of course China have kept the airports very busy. Don Muang is as busy now as it was when it closed.

Immigration remains a pain until a change in attitude occurs.

The big problem is capacity both for passengers and aircraft. Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi are the worst. I see they were discussions on building a 2nd airport at Chiang Mai, whose problems are in part due to a self imposed ban on flights between midnight and 6am due to noise. I can see perhaps Turkish or Fly Dubai starting flights in the not too distant future. 

Bloomberg has had a few interesting articles on these problems. Even some of the smaller airports are reaching capacity due to domestic demand.

[Thian]

8 hours ago, coulson said:

On 6-4-2018 at 3:10 PM, webfact said:

Thailand offers international aerospace companies a high quality of life, access to a skilled and talented workforce, and a business-friendly climate,

 

1-2 years ago thailand had big issues on the airports because of unqualified technicians. And when i hear Thai pilots/aircrew speaking english i can't understand a word of it. 

 

So i think they have a long way to go...

[Familyonthemove]

8 hours ago, Cadbury said:

Increasing the immigration counters and available staff might be too much to expect. That will be at the bottom of the to do list as it is an expense rather than part of the income stream of the development. Customer service has a much lower priority to getting a return on investment.

I'm seriously considering moving our Asia Head Office from Thailand, as over three quarters of our team travel overseas every week, and the airport immigration and security delays and traffic/train congestion are just too unpredictable, and it's having a significant impact on efficiency.

 

International hubs need efficient infrastructure.

[Redline]

Seems pretty speculative, even with the length of the article 

[Stargeezr]

isn"t U Tapao the air base near Pattaya.  That would be a nice alternate International

Airport and hub, as many people still like to go to Pattaya and area as a part of

their Thailand adventure.  Maybe that would help Swampy, as it is getting close to

maxed out for flights. And a high speed rail link could be built to connect these airports

sometime in the future..

Great Idea

Geezer

[Stargeezr]

U Tapao Airbase.