Transport Transport Ministry Halts Plans for Mukdahan Airport, Looks to Laos for New Travel Link

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Thailand’s Transport Ministry has decided to pause plans for the construction of an airport in Mukdahan following a review by the Department of Airports (DOA). The study concluded that the economic feasibility of the project was not promising.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, announced that the government would instead pursue alternative solutions to improve travel connections to the region. The Ministry believes that using existing nearby airports could provide a more practical option. The high costs of building a new airport, coupled with a lack of economic returns, were cited as reasons for the decision.

 

Mukdahan’s closest airport in Thailand is located in Sakon Nakhon, approximately an hour’s drive away. However, discussions are underway to collaborate with the Lao government to explore using Savannakhet Airport, just across the border in Laos. This alternative would reduce travel time to Mukdahan to just 10 minutes.

 

The Transport Ministry plans to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to negotiate with the Lao authorities for a new travel route connecting the two countries. This would include discussions about potentially exempting Thai citizens from immigration checks, making cross-border travel more seamless. Additionally, the plan would involve introducing shuttle bus services to facilitate the journey.

 

Mr. Suriya emphasized that this approach would not only provide significant savings for the Thai government but would also lower travel costs for passengers. The plan would avoid the need for the multi-billion baht investment required to build an airport in Mukdahan.

 

This collaboration with Laos is seen as a win-win for both nations, improving travel accessibility while promoting economic ties. Furthermore, the Ministry aims to encourage the expansion of low-cost airline routes between Thailand and Laos to further enhance convenience for travelers.

 

A final agreement on the proposal is expected to be reached by 2026.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-04-29.