ID :
500898
Thu, 08/09/2018 - 09:55
Auther :

"TG MRO Campus" to be on service in 2022

BANGKOK, August 9 (TNA) - Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), running the country's national flag carrier, plans to open a most comprehensive hangar in Asia-Pacific that meets international standards at the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Project over the next four years to serve international airlines. THAI Executive Vice President at Technical Department Surachai Piencharoensak told journalists of the plan on August 8, announcing that the comprehensive hangar, named the "TG Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) Campus", will be located in the compound of the U-Tapao International Airport in Rayong Province, under the supervision of the Royal Thai Navy, which is part of the Thai government-supported EEC Project. Surachai said THAI is now ready to sign a cooperation agreement with the Royal Thai Navy and the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand (EECO) to enable his state-run company to develop and utilize the 210-rai hangar (2.5 rai = 1 acre). Surachai stated that THAI will forward the plan on the establishment of the "TG MRO Campus" to the Cabinet for further consideration on a proposed budget of about 6.33 billion baht to fund the construction of the modern and comprehensive hangar and its necessary infrastructure, in which a total of 80-100 airplanes can be catered for, after the plan is approved by the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee (EECPO), chaired by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha himself. Besides, THAI and its business partners, expected to be finally-selected by November 2018, will half-half invest another about 4 billion baht to acquire other machines and equipment necessary to run the newly-established "TG MRO Campus", the size of which will be comparable to the THAI structure located at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport on the outskirts of Bangkok, excluding its hangar located at the Don Mueang International Airport that has earned THAI about 3 billion baht annually. According to the THAI executive vice president, the "TG MRO Campus" is expected to generate a total financial return of about 200 billion baht within 50 years, catering for both Boeing and Airbus aircraft, or about 400-500 baht annually in its initial operation, and it has been set to be on service in its first phase within 2022 to initially serve about 10 planes, including those of THAI and other international airlines, covering those owned by Vietnam, Japan and European nations. The THAI executive vice president acknowledged that the second-phase operation of the "TG MRO Campus" is scheduled to be launched in 2040, anticipating that the service business at the new hangar should grow by about 2 per cent annually, with its break even point foreseen in the 11th year. The THAI executive vice president targeted that the "TG MRO Campus" should gain the market share of about 4 per cent is Asia within 10 years after its first operation over the next four years, being second to only the Singapore Airlines-owned hangar in the neighboring island state. (TNA)

X