Airports of Thailand team set on safety, security issues

[webfact]

AOT team set on safety, security issues
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- AIRPORTS of Thailand (AOT) has set up a team to deal with the impacts of recent concerns about the country's aviation safety.

AOT chairman Prasong Poontaneat said yesterday that the team would work with relevant bodies such as the Department of Civil Aviation, the Transport Ministry and airports on aviation security and safety matters.

"AOT prepared the team in case we have to deal with problems regarding the current aviation-safety issues," he said.

Thailand was recently classified by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as being a country with significant safety concerns in its aviation oversight.

Nikkei Asian Review reported that the Philippines was given an aviation-safety upgrade by the European Union, taking all of that country's remaining airlines off a blacklist it imposed in 2010.

The publication said that while Thailand and the Philippines had been in the spotlight, the safety issue was now shifting to Indonesia, where aviation-safety standards have been questioned by regulators.

Prasong said AOT had implemented intensive measures against Middle East respiratory syndrome at its six international airports, including Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang.

AOT is also running emergency practices and drills to bring its preparedness for natural disasters, terrorism, and disease outbreaks up to international standards.

The agency yesterday celebrated its 36th anniversary. To date, its six international airports have served 1.2 billion passengers and 8.2 million flights.

AOT is continuing its expansion plans at major airports. Renovation of Don Mueang International Airport will be completed in August, which is expected to increase its capacity from 18.5 million passengers to 30 million per year. Suvarnabhumi Airport is also planned to have another passenger terminal and aircraft hangar.

A third runway is under an environmental feasibility study. Once these projects are completed, Suvarnabhumi's annual capacity should rise from the current 45 million to 60 million.

Phuket International Airport is scheduled to open a new terminal next February that is expected to serve up to 12.5 million passengers per year. Chiang Mai International Airport has drafted a five-year plan to increase annual capacity from 8 million to 15 million.

AOT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said the number of passengers served by its six airports in the eight months to May in this fiscal year grew by 19.58 per cent to 72.1 million. Of that number, 41.6 million were international passengers, up 16.5 per cent, and 30.5 million were domestic travellers, up by 20.0 per cent.

Aircraft movements, in terms of takeoffs and landings, rose 12.4 per cent to 471,499, consisting of 243,213 international and 228,286 domestic.

The top five countries in terms of arrivals were China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and India.

On financial performance, AOT posted 17.8-per-cent growth in net profit for the fiscal year's first six months to March on revenue of Bt23.2 billion, up by 11 per cent.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/AOT-team-set-on-safety-security-issues-30263395.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-30

[chainarong]

One would hope that the team also liaison with international experts and not rely on local content otherwise you will fall so far behind your audits will be in disgrace, just like the DCA.

[quandow]

This will be an important test. The international community is now aware of Thailand's aviation safety issue and this will directly affect tourism. How will you react Thailand? Will you actually address the issue and fix the planes, or will you do as you've always done on this and many other issues - ignore it, put out false reports of your accomplishments, and collect graft for doing so?

We're watching . . .

[tigermonkey]

Thailand still has not gotten the message, and probably never will understand. ICAO wants DCA to be a strong and proactive regulator and overseer of all aviation activities in Thailand. That includes airlines, air traffic control and aerodromes, amongst a long list of activities. This regulation and oversight must be effective, independent, unbiased and transparent. It is enough of a problem that DCA has in the past sought help from THAI ( whom they are supposed to regulate) because of the DCA labour shortage, but DCA also own and operate AOT, who they are supposed to independently oversee and regulate.

ICAO does not care one whit about AOT's passenger numbers and plans and profits, and neither should DCA, but unfortunately DCA owns them. When will Thailand come to grips with the concept of 'conflict of interest'. ICAO have mentioned it several times, but the comments apparently fall on deaf ears.

Edited June 30, 2015 by tigermonkey

[bangon04]

Interesting that the Philippines has been "cleared".

AOT has security protocols that Manila does not. Some examples:

1) Manila X ray screening - leave laptops, tablets and large electronic items in your bags during screening. Also no investigation of small liquids

2) Manila has no procedure for checking boarding pass against ID after passport control, so in theory anyone in possession of a boarding pass can get on a plane.

[SOTIRIOS]

.....isn't that what they are being overpaid to do..........to begin with.....???

[Jimlove]

Cant wait to see what ICAO will do to these fools - Seems like they still think their idiotic Lip Service is gonna clear the way ...

ICAO dont care what dream arrival numbers AOT has for their lousy airports - numbers that btw will never be a reality since tourism in LOS will decline and sink like a stone - its gonna be a nightmare for Ms. Popcorn

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

What they are actually saying is......After years of focusing on payoffs and ignoring safety issues they will now go through some of the motions of appearing to be concerned about safety.