In a bid to bolster its status as a regional aviation hub, Thailand faces recommendations from international airlines to enhance facilities at key airports, catering beyond mere flight services and focusing on seamless transport between airports and urban centers.
By 2030, the Thai government aims to see its airports handling a whopping 150 million passengers annually. However, Southeast Asia marketing manager of Spring Airlines, Egaluk Ngiwprom, believes this objective, while ambitious, demands substantial enhancements across multiple fronts.
For airlines contemplating increased flight frequencies, efficient connectivity between airports and urban hubs becomes paramount, Egaluk emphasizes. Despite the potential of regional airports like Chiang Rai and U-tapao to attract international flights, their limited transport infrastructure poses a significant hurdle.
Egaluk points out concerns regarding the readiness of transport facilities, particularly in light of the post-pandemic travel landscape shifting towards independent travelers with distinct preferences compared to organized tour groups.
Spring Airlines’ recent move to Suvarnabhumi Airport’s new SAT-1 building, though symbolizing progress, falls short in catering to passengers’ needs for shopping and dining amenities during layovers, according to Egaluk.
In contrast to Suvarnabhumi’s single congested terminal, Singapore’s Changi Airport boasts four terminals with seamless connections and an array of recreational options, including cinemas, malls, and dedicated play areas.
Moreover, Egaluk stresses the urgency for Thailand to streamline its immigration processes, advocating for biometric solutions akin to those deployed in Singapore.
To entice airlines to venture into secondary tourism hubs, Egaluk suggests incentivizing with reduced landing and parking fees while promoting local attractions.
Highlighting disparities in fees versus services rendered, he urges a reevaluation of airport taxes and associated charges.
Furthermore, Egaluk underscores the significance of enhancing ground handling services by fostering competition among service providers to elevate standards.
Meanwhile, Saranya Boonyawattana, executive vice-president of corporate strategy at Airports of Thailand Plc, unveils plans to incentivize new routes between 2023 and 2025, offering substantial discounts on landing, parking, and boarding bridge charges.
Amid these deliberations, the Tourism Authority of Thailand hosts the “Air-mazing Thailand: Amazing Airline Familiarization Trip,” inviting 20 international airlines to explore regional airports like U-tapao, Surat Thani, Krabi, and Chiang Mai over a four-day period, aimed at scouting potential new flight operations.
