AOT planning two economy lounges

BANGKOK: -- Airports of Thailand (AOT) plans to invite private investors to build two economy lounges at Suvarnabhumi Airport next year.

"Economy-class passengers and those who travel with low-cost airlines want to be comfortable if |they have to wait a number of |hours for their flights. So the company would like to have that ser-|vice at Suvarnabhumi," AOT president Serirat Prasutanond said last week.

The lounges are planned for the eastern and western sides of the terminal and each will cover 200 square metres.

Serirat said the company would invite outside investors to submit their formal interest in the concession next year.

He added that each lounge would provide drinks, bathrooms and other personal facilities.

The operator will be allowed to charge no more than Bt500 per passenger per day for use of the lounges.

Most airlines already have |business and first-class lounges.

Serirat said AOT would also introduce automated check-in machines at the airport for added passenger convenience.

AOT expects the number of passengers using Suvarnabhumi will increase by 10 per cent next year, as many airlines plan to resume their Thai operations.

"The global economic situation is not likely to worsen, so international travel will rise again," said Serirat.

This year, the company has invested in information techno-|logy at Suvarnabhumi by adding |100 computers with free Wi-Fi Internet.

It also centralised luggage scanning into one location, while adding more fast-track lanes to serve business and premium passengers.

Moreover, it relocated the giant statues from the departure halls to the arrival halls, so that visitors can get a better feel of Thai culture and history before travelling in the Kingdom.

-- The Nation 2009-12-07

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Alright ! Free water and peanuts.

It might piss-off King Power, if you're not forced to wait around bored, near their too-many outlets. So this is good news then !

Or is this the new Air Asa overstay fee

so King power can charge you for breathing while awaiting delayed flights.

Only here!

Can you imagine CGD or JFK charging to sit in reasonable comfort

Dusseldorf and Changi Airports are more pleasnat than many the destinations.

Of course facilities need to be paid for,how about a tout tax or a windfall tax on all those AOT and KP nuts who have been coining it

Although we no longer queue Don Muang style to leave the LOS the 700 is itemised on ticket price

Funny how you can fly on Air Asia all over but leaving Thailnd you pay 700 for what?