Speaking to media representatives following a mobile cabinet meeting in Sukhothai, Sansern Kaewkamnerd said senior figures with the Airports of Thailand (AoT) authority would be inspecting the locations. The lieutenant-general explained that the viability studies would take place in late January or February.
A new airport is needed to serve the nation’s second city, and the capital of the North, as the old one is close to the centre and is approaching maximum capacity. The current structures and runways are designed to accommodate eight million passengers annually but have been handling almost ten over the past few years.
12GO ASIA notes the AoT has already committed to plans to expand Chiang Mai Airport so that the maximum passenger capacity will be 13 million. This is due for completion by 2025. The long-term proposal is to increase the capacity to 20 million.
Thailand names two possible sites for new Chiang Mai Airport
News in Asia
A spokesperson says the government of Thailand has identified two possible locations for a new Chiang Mai airport. One is in the northern province’s district of San Kampaeng and the other in the Ban Thi area of neighbouring Lamphun Province.