The Airports of Thailand (AOT) has announced a significant shift in its commercial operations, effective July 1, to mitigate an anticipated loss exceeding 90 million baht. This financial impact stems from the reclamation of commercial and office areas at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket International Airports, a move designed to enhance facilities and boost passenger satisfaction.
This initiative is in response to recommendations from the aviation consultancy firm Skytrax, which suggested these changes to help Suvarnabhumi Airport meet passenger expectations and secure a spot among the world’s top 50 airports by 2025. The long-term goal is to rank within the top 20 over the next five years.
As part of the plan, AOT will reclaim commercial spaces currently managed by King Power Duty Free and office spaces occupied by government agencies, including the Immigration Bureau, the Thai Customs Department, and the Revenue Department. This effort will free up approximately 1,097.14 square meters at Suvarnabhumi Airport and 491.22 square meters at Phuket International Airport.
The reclamation is projected to result in a monthly loss of approximately 1.01 million baht in office and state property rent. Additionally, it could reduce the minimum guarantees for the 2024-2025 contract years at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket airports by around 74 million baht and 19 million baht per month, respectively.
To offset this decline in revenue, AOT has developed projects aimed at increasing income through other commercial activities.
