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Newly appointed Airports of Thailand (AOT) president Serirat Prasutanond announced he would focus on raising non-aviation revenue and developing facilities at Suvarnabhumi Airport as his first priorities.

The Bt77-billion airport development is expected to take six years and is aimed at increasing passenger-handling capacity from 45 million to 80 million. The domestic-terminal project will last from next year to 2013 and include a third runway. The second phase of the expansion project is scheduled for 2011-16.

After signing a contract appointing him as AOT president, Serirat said he would restore employees' confidence in the company.

"I will speed up commercial activities at airports by hiring consultants to conduct feasibility studies of planned projects this year," he said, adding that authorities could therefore launch terms of reference to invite private-sector participation in the projects.

At Suvarnabhumi Airport, projects include a community mall, land development on 600 rai south of the airport, warehouse construction and a service centre for automobiles.

At Don Meuang Airport, projects includes a terminal and maintenance facilities for private jets and an aviation-training centre.

For Chiang Mai Airport, a duty-free-zone bonded warehouse will be established

For Phuket Airport, the authority plans to build a terminal for private jets.

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