Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Transport Ministry is accelerating development and construction projects on six airports with an aim to become the region's transportation hub.

Thai Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri said on October 28 after attending the 59th Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Conference in the Philippines that the number of passengers was projected to double in the next 20 years.

The conference, attended by representatives from 48 countries and international aviation organisations including Thailand’s Department of Airports (DOA), discussed critical areas in civil aviation on the theme “Shaping the Future of Air Transport: Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive”.

A doubling of global passenger numbers within the next 20 years was projected during the meeting, emphasising the need for significant infrastructure investment, particularly in the Asia-Pacific.

Following the conference, the ministry outlined a vision for the future of air transport, anticipating passenger volume growth, infrastructure development, and travel facilitation. It also encouraged the DOA to consider sustainable and inclusive airport infrastructure investments nationwide, including capacity enhancement projects and the construction of six new airports in Mukdahan, Bueng Kan, Satun, Phayao, Kalasin, and Phatthalung.

Danai Ruengsorn, director-general of DOA, stated that the office will expedite infrastructure development across all regions. Currently, feasibility studies for future airport construction are underway, with Mukdahan and Bueng Kan airports in the design and environmental impact assessment(EIA) stages. Meanwhile, Satun Airport is in the contractor selection process for design and EIA.

Phayao Airport has received budget approval for design and EIA in 2025, while feasibility studies for Kalasin and Phatthalung airports are now complete.

In addition, the DOA will ♏incorporate insights from recent meetings to plan airport development and implement practices aimed at elevating DOA-operated airports to meet international standards./.