Thailand targets 2029 to become ASEAN’s largest aviation hub
The Ministry of Transport has set its sights on 2029, by which it wants to have established Thailand as ASEAN’s definitive aviation hub, unveiling aggressive plans to increase passenger capacity at its primary gateways to at least 120 million annually.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed yesterday that the government intends to leverage Thailand’s geographic positioning to its fullest, establish the country as the premier regional hub for travel and logistics.
To get into the lead amid fierce global competition, the ministry is prioritising rapid upgrades to core aviation infrastructure, advanced technologies and specialised human resource development.
Under the expansion plan, the combined capacity of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports will be increased to at least 120 million passengers per year by 2029. Individually, Suvarnabhumi’s annual capacity is to grow from its current limit of 60 million passengers to over 73 million over the next three years.
The aviation master plan also sees the full integration of provincial hubs, including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani airports.
On the logistics front, the ministry is prioritising cargo handling improvements. Airports of Thailand Ground Aviation Services (AOTGA), which secured the contract to operate Suvarnabhumi’s third cargo warehouse, is currently finalising its operational integration. The ministry expects to present the new operations framework to the Cabinet for formal approval within two months.
Concurrently, authorities are moving to eliminate regulatory bottlenecks and the standardization of the handling protocols for highly specialised goods, such as pharmaceuticals, controlled shipments and live animals.
Progress updates on key terminal projects indicate that Suvarnabhumi Airport’s East Expansion project is currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Transport and the Cabinet, with construction projected to commence next year.
Meanwhile, Don Mueang International Airport’s Phase 3 expansion, which includes a new international passenger terminal, road access improvements and public transport integration, is being evaluated by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP).
The proposal will be submitted to the ministry later this month, before heading to the Cabinet.
The transport minister has also ordered the expedited development of dedicated Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities and specialised aviation logistics centres, to support the long-term rise in both passenger traffic and cargo volume.
Phiphat expressed confidence that the 2029 target is realistic, as several critical infrastructure, capacity-building and logistics framework projects are already on track to conclude consecutively over the next few years.