17-9-2023 (BANGKOK) Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has thrown his support behind the Airports of Thailand (AOT) plan to construct a second airport for Chiang Mai within the next seven years. This bold move aims to meet the surging demand from tourists flocking to the northern province, prompting the need for expanded air travel facilities.
During a visit to Chiang Mai airport on Sunday, representatives from AOT unveiled the ambitious second airport project, estimated to cost 70 billion baht, with a targeted completion date of seven years from now.
The proposed new airport will be situated on an expansive 11 square-kilometer land plot in Ban Thi district, located in the adjacent province of Lamphun. Once completed, it is anticipated that this addition will significantly boost Chiang Mai’s passenger-handling capacity to accommodate 20 million travelers annually, up from the current capacity of 8 million passengers per year.
Prime Minister Srettha expressed his approval for the seven-year timeline, urging the responsible officials to ensure the timely realization of this critical project. He affirmed the government’s commitment to actively support this endeavor, recognizing its importance for the region’s infrastructure and tourism development.
In the interim period before the new airport’s completion, AOT intends to introduce round-the-clock flight operations. However, this plan has raised concerns among local residents residing in the vicinity of the existing airport, who have expressed worries about the potential environmental impact.
AOT representatives moved to allay these concerns by stating that noise pollution resulting from airport activities would remain within established safety limits.
Prime Minister Srettha assured the concerned parties that relevant authorities would address these concerns and work towards appropriate compensation measures, reaffirming the government’s commitment to responsible and sustainable development in the region.
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