AIRPORT REPORT: BANGKOK
also help reduce peak time congestion in the terminal building. We are delighted that it has finally opened.” You could arguably claim that a yearly upturn in traffic would be
the fourth piece of good news for Bangkok Suvarnabhumi in 2010 following AoT’s unveiling of a new, more dynamic logo for the gateway earlier this year. Prasutanond claims that the creation of the new logo is a measure
to support AoT’s vision of being “Asia’s leading airport business” and desire to become one of the world’s top 10 airports in ACI’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) passenger satisfaction programme. Majority state-owned AoT operates the country’s six main airports,
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang in Bangkok, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phuket, which between them handle around 90% of all air traffic in Thailand. Prasutanond admits that, for now, AoT has no plans to close
downtown Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport. In fact, he reveals that the state-owned airport operator has plans to develop the airport site to generate new revenue streams. “I cannot give much away, but we have plans to implement
aviation related projects at Don Mueang,” he remarks. “A number of potential projects are currently being considered which, if they come to fruition, could be expected to boost our revenues and income for the local community. The projects will also enhance the national airport system as a whole.” Whatever happens at Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi will, of course,
remain Bangkok’s and indeed Thailand’s premier airport and main gateway to the world. Not surprisingly, Thai Airways International is the biggest of the
93 scheduled carriers serving Suvarnabhumi in terms of market share. Other big players in Bangkok include Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and China Airlines.
30 AIRPORT WORLD/FEBRUARY-MARCH 2011
Low-cost carriers currently account for around 30% of all
passengers handled at Suvarnabhumi, and their growing importance to the airport has even led Prasutanond to claim that they have driven traffic growth in Bangkok for the last five or six years. “The LCCs have had a positive impact on traffic growth ever
since they first arrived in Bangkok back in 2004,” says Prasutanond. “While the legacy carriers have enjoyed an average of a 5% rise in passenger numbers since 2004, the LCCs have enjoyed a 20% increase. The figures do not lie, the LCCs have positively driven traffic growth.” The combination of LCCs and legacy carriers ensure that O&D
traffic currently account for 70% of all passengers at Suvarnabhumi and transfer traffic for the remaining 30%. Although happy with the traffic mix, it hasn’t stopped
Suvarnabhumi looking to add to its list of airlines or expand its route network. Indeed AoT, which reduced its landing fees and airport charges for
12 months during the darkest days of the global financial crisis, continues to offer airlines a package of incentives to launch new revenue boosting services. So what are Prasutanond’s goals for the year ahead? Ever the businessman, he claims that his priorities for 2011
include making AoT more profitable and increasing management efficiency and service levels. “We can increase the profitability of the organisation by
generating more revenue, improving management efficiency and more efficiently utilising our existing assets,” muses Prasutanond. With a newly approved master plan and a forward looking
corporate strategy based on enhancing operational efficiency and customer service levels, few could accuse Prasutanond and AoT of not having a long-term plan.
AW
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