Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has announced a comprehensive plan to transform Thailand into a major aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region by 2030. The plan, dubbed “Thailand Vision”, involves upgrading and expanding the country’s airports, developing the aviation maintenance and cargo industries, and enhancing the sustainability and competitiveness of the Thai aviation sector.
According to the Prime Minister, Thailand Vision aims to restore Suvarnabhumi Airport’s status as a top 20 global airport within five years, and increase its capacity to handle 150 million passengers annually by 2030. The plan also includes transforming Don Mueang Airport into a point-to-point model, increasing its capacity from 30 million to 50 million passengers annually by 2030. Additionally, the government plans to construct Andaman Airport as a second airport to serve tourists visiting Phuket and nearby areas, and expand Phuket International Airport to accommodate 18 million passengers annually by 2030.
The Prime Minister also revealed that the government aims to develop the maintenance industry into a hub for both commercial and private aircraft, and establish a temperature-controlled cargo warehouse system (Cold Chain) to distribute goods to over 280 million people in Thailand and neighboring countries. Furthermore, the government intends to collaborate with airlines, tourism agencies, and hotels to optimize flight schedules, aircraft types, and passenger services. To ensure the environmental sustainability of the aviation sector, the government plans to adopt Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and support domestic production, as well as promote environmentally friendly packaging.
The Prime Minister expressed his confidence that Thailand Vision will not only create economic opportunities but also improve the quality of life and drive sustainable economic growth in Thailand. He said that Thailand has the potential to become a key aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region, given its strategic location, strong infrastructure, and skilled workforce. He also urged all stakeholders to work together to achieve the goals of Thailand Vision and elevate Thailand’s aviation industry to the next level.
Reference: Thailand PRD
