AOT Hosts World Aviation Leaders’ Forum, Accentuating Thai Airports' Potential as Aviation Hub      

The Airports of Thailand PCL (AOT) plays host to the world aviation leaders’ forum to contemplate the next chapter of the aviation Industry. The forum, which comes under the aegis of the AOT Sister Airport CEO Forum 2024, sees AOT elaborating on the readiness of Thai airports in spearheading the developments to turn Thailand into a regional aviation and tourism hub. The forum is themed “Embracing the Next Chapter in Aviation Industry” and will take place on 13 - 15 November 2024 at the Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel. Pol. Gen. Visanu Prasattongosoth, AOT Chairman will preside over the opening of the forum which will be attended by Dr. Kerati Kijmanawat, AOT President, senior executives of 18 airports under the Sister Airport Agreement (SAA) with AOT, senior executives from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Airports Council International (ACI), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), airlines, government agencies and AOT management.

Dr. Kerati noted that the forum is part of the biennial conference to provide a platform for senior executives of AOT's sister airports to exchange knowledge, experiences, and perspectives on airport management from leading international airports, as well as sharing up-to-date and useful information for further excellence in airport management. The forum will address the future trends of the aviation industry, looking at ways and means to create cooperation among all relevant sectors both domestically and internationally to prepare for the challenges and changes that lie ahead. At the same time, participants will work together in an integrated manner to enhance operations and develop the aviation industry sustainably. SAA airports, which are world-class and successful airports, will share experiences and best practices that can be applied to all six AOT-operated airports. The airport alliance also increases opportunities to expand business partnerships in the aviation industry that are in line with the development goals of Thailand's aviation industry.
      

The AOT Sister Airport CEO Forum 2024 is honoured to have Mr. Tao Ma, Regional Director of the Asia and Pacific Regional Office of ICAO, and Mr. Stefano Baronci, Director of ACI for Asia Pacific and Middle East, participating in a talk with Dr. Kerati Kijmanawat, AOT President. That will be followed by a discussion among senior airport executives on the topic of 'All Connected Towards Airport Excellence and Sustainability.' Then, there will be a discussion to share best practices on the topic of 'Airport Operational Efficiency and Future Trends.'
      
As for the strategy for developing AOT's six airports to make Thailand a regional aviation hub and moving Thai airports to the world's top 20 airport ranking, Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) has been making strides in developments to accommodate up to 150 million passengers per year. The third runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport is now officially up and running, ramping up the capacity to handle 94 flights per hour from 68 earlier. There are also major airport capacity expansion projects underway at Suvarnabhumi Airport including the extension of the existing passenger terminal to its eastern wing, known as East Expansion, that will raise the airport's passenger handling capacity to 80 million per year. Furthermore, there will be the construction of the South Terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport to accommodate 70 million more passengers per year, and a fourth runway to increase the capacity to serve up to 120 flights per hour. In addition, there is a plan to develop Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) to increase the capacity to accommodate 40 million passengers per year and up 50 million in a peak managed mode. In order to make Don Mueang a hub for domestic and international flights in the Southeast Asia, there have been developments. These include an international passenger terminal, the Junction Building which is a central space directly connected to the Red Line train system, a car park space with recreational and commercial areas. Plans are afoot to set up an Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and overhaul (MRO) centre, along with the study of new airports such as the Andaman Airport, the Lanna Airport and a seaplane and ferry terminal to cater to high-end passengers.
      
In addition to infrastructure development, AOT also focuses on sustainability to drive towards becoming a prototype Green Airport, the first environmentally friendly international airport in Thailand. This is an airport that uses clean energy to produce 37.81 megawatts of electricity, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 555,686.271 tCO2e throughout its 20-year lifespan and cutting energy costs by up to 25%. Meanwhile, AOT has a policy to change all vehicles serving the airport to electric-powered, promoting the use of electric taxis to provide services to passengers, and installing EV charging stations for electric public buses. However, AOT also emphasises providing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplies by investing and researching for the alternative petroleum-based energy for aircraft entering and leaving Thailand within the next three years and making the country a centre of SAF production and distribution in the Southeast Asia.
      
In addition, AOT has introduced technology and innovations in modern passenger service systems to boost efficiency in providing services to passengers at its six airports, thus offering more convenience, reducing waiting times and alleviating passenger congestion during rush hours. In November, AOT launched the Automated Biometric Identification System using facial recognition technology to identify passengers easily to reduce queuing time at each service point in the airport. AOT has earlier installed the Common Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS) to support a total of five stages of service systems: (1) CUTE machines (ticket check-ins used by airline staff); (2) CUSS machines (automatic self-check-in machines); (3) CUBD machines (automatic baggage claim machines); (4) PVS (Passenger Validation System) to verify passenger identities; and (5) SBG (Self-Boarding Gate).
      
Dr. Kerati concluded that AOT hopes that the AOT Sister Airport CEO Forum 2024 will be an important platform for senior executives from leading airports under SAA to have the opportunity to exchange knowledge, experiences, and perspectives on airport management, the challenging trends of the aviation industry, whilst fostering cooperation and supporting Thailand's economic and tourism growths sustainably.
      
AOT has currently signed Sister Airport Agreements with 14 airport operators covering 18 international airports across 10 countries. The airports include Munich Airport, Incheon International Airport, Narita International Airport, Beijing International Airport, Luang Prabang International Airport, Nay Pyi Taw International Airport, Kansai International Airport, Osaka International (Itami) Airport, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Noi Bai International Airport, Da Nang International Airport, Phú Quốc International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Yangon International Airport, Liège Airport, O.R.Tambo International Airport, Istanbul Airport and Leipzig/Halle Airport.