New aviation routes in Thai South to be soon announced

BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) - Thailand will officially announce the country's improved aviation routes in the southern region late this month to cater for rising commercial flights landing to and taking off from southern airports. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has approved the official announcement of the improved aviation routes in the Thai South on March 28, after a meeting between the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd. (AEROTHAI) and international airlines on the issue earlier this month to ensure proper and mutual understanding. Air Chief Marshal Somsak Harnwong, Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force's Directorate of Air Operations Control, said on Thursday that the Royal Thai Air Force and AEROTHAI have worked together on the improved aviation routes in the Thai South to meet the rising demand for commercial air traffic services and to enhance the efficiency of the aviation management in the region in order to maximize the national aviation benefit eventually. "The Royal Thai Air Force pays a most attention to the practical management of aviation routes for both the national security reason and the further development of the domestic air transport system. To support and to enable the improved commercial aviation routes in the Thai South, conducted by AEROTHAI, the Royal Thai Air Force has already adjusted aviation training areas of its fleet 7 base in Surat Thani Province", Air Chief Marshal Somsak told journalists. Meanwhile, AEROTHAI President Somnuk Rongthong stated that the improved commercial aviation routes will be two one-way routes in parallel for inbound and outbound flights to and from southern Thai airports in Phuket, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang and Surat Thani Provinces. According to the AEROTHAI president, air traffic in the Thai South has increased by double over the past five years, catering for a total of about 12,400 commercial flights monthly or about 400 flights daily on average, accounting for about 31 per cent of overall domestic flights in the country, and the improved aviation routes should, thus, cater for more commercial flights in the Thai South to about 1,000 flights daily on average in the near future, which should result in the further development of both the domestic aviation and tourism businesses. (TNA)