Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport kicks off 2nd-phase development plan

SAMUT PRAKAN, THAILAND, September 14 (TNA) - Thailand's Suvarnabhumi International Airport has started its second-phase development plan, set to be completed by November 2019. Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha presided over a ceremony to start the airport's second-phase development plan at the airport in Bangkok's neighboring Samut Prakan Province on Wednesday, attended by Transport Minister Arkom Termpittayapaisith and executives of the ministry and Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT). Meanwhile, AOT President Nitinai Sirismatthakarn told journalists that the Thai Cabinet approved the Suvarnabhumi Airport's second-phase development plan in August 2010, aimed to enhance the airport's capacity to serve international passengers up to 60 million annually, from 45 million now. Nitinai said the second-phase development plan includes the extension of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport's east-wing terminal, the construction of midfield satellite concourse and relevant utility systems with a total budget of about 62.5 billion baht. According to the AOT president, the second-phase development plan will also boost the Suvarnabhumi International Airport's capacity to serve growing global aviation businesses, while also stimulating the Thai economy. (TNA)