AOT approves building second airports for Chiang Mai, Phuket

[webfact]

AOT approves building second airports for Chiang Mai, Phuket

By The Nation

 

FILE photo //Wikipedia

 

The Airports of Thailand board of directors on Wednesday approved the construction of second airports for Chiang Mai and Phuket with a combined budget of Bt120 billion.

 

Each new airport is budgeted at Bt60 billion, said AOT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, with construction beginning in 2019 and completed no later than 2025.

 

Though named Second Chiang Mai International Airport, the facility would be built in Lamphun’s Ban Thi district. And the Second Phuket International Airport would l be built in Phang Nga’s Ban Khok Kruad district.

 

The new airports would be about 20 to 30 kilometres distant from the first airports, Nitinai added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30346244

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-25

[shady86]

Waste of funds to build 2nd airport for cities with less than 500k population. Further distance from city center adds further inconvenience to passengers, adding further travel time and costs.

[Just1Voice]

2nd airports 20 - 30 away?  So, land in Lamphun, then take half hour bus ride to Chiang Mai?  Not exactly my idea of a good time.

 

[colinneil]

7 minutes ago, shady86 said:

Waste of funds to build 2nd airport for cities with less than 500k population. Further distance from city center adds further inconvenience to passengers, adding further travel time and costs.

Agree with you mate, but they will build new airports using construction companies with AOTs senior members family members involvement, so they all get their kickbacks.

[Darcula]

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

Though named Second Chiang Mai International Airport, the facility would be built in Lamphun’s Ban Thi district. And the Second Phuket International Airport would l be built in Phang Nga’s Ban Khok Kruad district.

 

All the land that Uncle Somchai bought recently up in shitcreek just turned into gold.

[coulson]

Ridiculous planning as usual. Phuket just opened a year ago and it already can't cater for projected traffic.

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, shady86 said:

Waste of funds to build 2nd airport for cities with less than 500k population. Further distance from city center adds further inconvenience to passengers, adding further travel time and costs.

Phuket and Chiang Mai, two of the most frequented tourist hotspots in Thailand.

Swamped with the masses from mainland China.

And they will ever increase.

What has that to do with "less than 500k population"?

 

But maybe someone can correct me that both airports have a relaxed flow of international passengers?

[webfact]

AOT reveal plans to build new airports in Chiang Mai and Phuket

 

FILE photo

 

Airports of Thailand have announced plans to build new airports in Chiang Mai and Phuket in order to meet an increase in passenger growth in the coming years.

 

Both of the current airports in Chiang Mai and Phuket can not be expanded so sites have already been selected for construction of two completely new airports, TNA reported.

 

At an AOT board meeting held on Thursday, it was agreed the two new airports would be built as part of a larger project to build 6 new airports in Thailand.

 

AOT said that by 2038, 137,790 flights will be arriving at Chiang Mai airport, bring some 23.33 million passengers. However, the current planned expansion of the city’s airport which is due for completion by 2025 would only accommodate 20 million passengers.

 

It’s a similar story in Phuket, where despite a recent upgrade the airport simply isn’t large enough to cope with the anticipated passenger growth.

 

AOT predicts Phuket will receive 42.2 million passengers from 211,150 flights by 2038. However, the current airport facilities will only be able to handle 18 million passengers by 2022.

 

In Chiang Mai the new airport will be located between San Kamphaeng district and Ban Thi district in Lamphun, where it will become a hub for travel in northern Thailand.

 

Meanwhile, a site in Khok Kloi, Phang Nga, which is located adjacent to Phuket island has been earmarked for the new airport.

 

The construction of the airports will cost 126 billion baht.

 

Officials said construction of the new airports will begin next year and will be completed by 2025.

 

Source: TNA

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-05-25

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

5 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Phuket and Chiang Mai, two of the most frequented tourist hotspots in Thailand.

Swamped with the masses from mainland China.

And they will ever increase.

What has that to do with "less than 500k population"?

 

But maybe someone can correct me that both airports have a relaxed flow of international passengers?

 

Agreed. These airports aren't for the local population, they're for the millions of tourists that visit CM and Phuket each year.

[KhunBENQ]

15 minutes ago, coulson said:

Ridiculous planning as usual. Phuket just opened a year ago and it already can't cater for projected traffic.

That makes sense.

The second airport should be ready now!

And of course it also makes sense to build it outside the island not spoiling more of the landscape and creating noise.

[Misterwhisper]

1 hour ago, Just1Voice said:

2nd airports 20 - 30 away?  So, land in Lamphun, then take half hour bus ride to Chiang Mai?  Not exactly my idea of a good time.

 

Or you could visit Lamphun instead... it's just 500 yards down the road.

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

2nd airports 20 - 30 away?  So, land in Lamphun, then take half hour bus ride to Chiang Mai?  Not exactly my idea of a good time.

 

Not your idea of a good time but cheap package tourist groups hop on their waiting coach and won't care. They might have had a much worse time to reach their hub at home.

And there is no word that the "old" airports would close.

Maybe focusing on domestic?

Having a choice for a premium?

Is it any different from low cost carrier airports in the west? "London" Stansted, "Frankfurt"-Hahn...

"Pattaya" U-Tapao

 

Edited May 25, 2018 by KhunBENQ

[alant]

49 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

Or you could visit Lamphun instead... it's just 500 yards down the road.

Not really, it is not that bad a trip into the city from the village of Ban Thi and the highway 1317 is largely 4 lane nearly all the way.

[holy cow cm]

Sorry, not going to Lamphun.

 

Wouldn't it be better to commandeer some of the air forces large vast land at CM airport that sits idle as they never fly there? They sure as heck don't need it and would be too easy to build an adjoining terminal. As for a new landing and take off strip and expanding, never mind, just a matter of que timing as it is not even near to being full.

 

 

Edited May 25, 2018 by holy cow cm

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

 

Agreed. These airports aren't for the local population, they're for the millions of tourists that visit CM and Phuket each year.

 

So keep the current CM airport operating for domestic flights.

 

My guess is that a very large % of CM residents (Thai and farang) see the current location as very convenient. 

 

[Lupatria]

2 hours ago, Darcula said:

 

All the land that Uncle Somchai bought recently up in shitcreek just turned into gold.

...and there is already a stampede of regular cops applying for positions with the immigration police, because it is much more convenient (air conditioned) and lucrative. Problem is, only a few will pass the required English test which is pretty tough.

[spidermike007]

I am going to ask one of the most obvious questions, about Thai airport, that one possibly can. Why on earth are they not using the Hua Hin airport? They just now started one flight from KL, to HH. One flight. I had read in the press about 6 months ago, that Air Asia, had signed an agreement with the airport authority, to operate up to 36 flights a day out of that airport. Nothing ever happened. Now, one flight a day? 

 

We all know what the excuse used to be. That no longer applies. So, is someone knuckle dragging? What gives? They spent a fortune expanding the runway a few years back. Then nothing. Even the Kan Air flights are discontinued, though I think that airline may have failed. Too bad. It was a nice little airline. 

 

Anybody have any factual information about this? It would seem that regional alternatives to the big airports in Bangkok would be encouraged. Or, am I making too much sense here?

[cardinalblue]

The city might have 500k but my guess the province is at 1.5 to 2m folks and they are all NE of the city......the middle and outer rings are bursting with pop and new moobaans....

 

traffic is horrible w/ no good public transport planned.....tragic mess

 

west traffic on the superhwy already congested in the late afternoons so will they widen it vs  a proper light rail line into the city

[Oziex1]

We are a sensible, logical bunch arn't we. 

 

We haven't forgotten where we are, build a new airport siphon the budget,  overcapacity in a year build another or upgrade the existing, siphon the budget and repeat.

[flyingdoc]

What a pity that they don't have Public Enquiries in Thailand on such subjects?

[Mitker]

Getting ready to see yet another ugly scar (and a huge one this time) on the face of what used to be a beautiful valley (Chiang Mai and its surroundings)

 

But when shopping centers are seen as paramount, an airport must seem like an amazing achievement

[Deli]

What about taking LESS tourist with MORE quality ( spending power and willingness ) ?

Roads, wastewater, trash, housing, already as it's limits now.

Oh, luehm...  TiT

 

 

[ebean001]

Chiang Mai: The ideal solution is an airport about 15 klms from the city with new superhighway supporting passenger transfer. The airport must be away from residence, schools, malls, etc.

Next, the current airport must be removed so roadways can be built to reduce the traffic problem. This is standard procedure in most cities. The airport is a major cause of traffic jams in this area. I am not referring to the people driving to the airport as much as the inability to construct many needed roads in this area.

Noise abatement is also a serious consideration. Planes fly over many neighborhoods in the area...and directly over BigC.

Finally, airport near malls, residences, school, etc is extremely dangerous because of accidents could cause a huge unnecessary casualty count.

Lastly, the military airport should also be removed. I thought it was against Geneva Convention to have military airports near residence, school, malls, etc. This is dangerous.

[SpeakeasyThai]

36 minutes ago, flyingdoc said:

What a pity that they don't have Public Enquiries in Thailand on such subjects?

Different IQ level. Does not apply in LOS

[AJBangkok]

This means our airport taxi fares will double. The only thing to look forward to is it’s going to create a huge sh#tfight between the Phuket taxi drivers and the Phang nga taxi drivers.

[Bob12345]

Am i the only one happy with this?

 

Leave Phuket airport the way it is and just move all chinese passengers and flights to the new airport at phangnga. 

 

They can build it up to chinese standards there without lines for immigration (who he pushes hardest can go first), tiled rooms that do purpose as toilets, and stalls selling mama noodles and dried fruits. 

 

Next they can go into their buses, visit all chinese owned "attractions", and eat at chinese owned buffet restaurants.

 

Sounds good to me.

[xtrnuno41]

2 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

That makes sense.

The second airport should be ready now!

And of course it also makes sense to build it outside the island not spoiling more of the landscape and creating noise.

Landscape in Phuket? Pang nga has more landscape. Besides Sarasin bridge with the police station in the entrance of Phuket will be a massive bottle neck for traffic. Then you will have enormous traffic jams, very helpful. Or they will also make them wider and remove the ridiculous police station ? Never the less roads will get smaller and traffic will be more and it is already now sometimes a hopeless situation. Maybe they should think then about a railway from the new airport into Phuket. 

[sahibji]

2 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

That makes sense.

The second airport should be ready now!

And of course it also makes sense to build it outside the island not spoiling more of the landscape and creating noise.

no long term planning - that is the problem. should get international teams to study and advise proposals. better to pay experts than keep on redoing ...

Edited May 25, 2018 by sahibji

[hobz]

It's interesting that they say cnx can't be expanded as they last year approved a 20 billion expansion plan for it......

[Dukeleto]

Problem is many will simply select the current Phuket International airport when selecting their destination with the airline carriers and not the one which will add an additional half an hour to their trip on to Phuket traffic congestion excluded!