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Koh Samui to Get Another Airport
8th May 2012
Koh Samui Island is in the works of having another airport as the present airport is not enough to cater to the needs of the growing number of travelers not to mention the complaints of the present airport's high fees.
Koh Samui could soon have a new airport, state-run; a move spearheaded by the Transport Ministry so as to end the monopoly on the island, enjoyed by the current privately-run airport service. So far Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan has already talked about the proposal to the board of Airports of Thailand. The board has been told to check the possibility of investment and the finding of locations to place Koh Samui's second airport on as the existing one is not ready for expansion to handle the rising flight demand.
The existing airport managed by Bangkok Airways which opened on March 1, 1989 is close to residential areas which hinder expansion as more flights could bring in more noise pollution due to flight takeoff and landing.
The presence of the new airport according to Jarupong said will promote price competition and boost the local tourism as well as end the monopoly enjoyed by the private existing airport.
The number of people traveling to Samui is growing and the present airport facilities are too limited and could not handle increasing traffic. To solve the problem, it is either the ministry consider talking with Bangkok Airways or build a new airport and get bargaining leverage.
The possibility of the construction of the new airport also has considerations being looked into like budget and possibility of profit and the possible effects the airport would give to the environment. The management of the AoT board was tasked to look for the new airport's suitable location.
The Transport Ministry appointed Kasetsart University to perform the new airport's feasibility study and appointed the ABEN Engineering Consultants Co to do environmental impact assessment (EIA) and engineering study.
Kasetsart University got good results as it was found that the new airport was financially possible and worthy of investment as well as address the problem of the growing air traffic. Construction of the new airport, according to the study, cost about 2 billion baht. The new airport's proposed location is located about 14km away from the existing airport and would cover about 1,490 rai in Koh Samui's tambon Na Muang. The EIA study was also positive as no engineering requirements problems were found as well as the finding of limited and preventable effects on the environment.
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