DOA denies expansion at Pai airport

The Department of Airports (DOA) director-general Darun Saengchai has denied Pai airport in Mae Hong Son is being expanded, saying the department has no plan in the near future to increase the airport's capacity.

He said if the DOA had any plan in store to expand the district airport in the future, it would allow nearby residents to have a say in the project.

If such a plan was to be implemented, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study would be carried out to ensure that the project does not have adverse impacts on the environment, he added.

He was speaking yesterday after he took part in a forum that had been set up to clarify public concerns about an airport expansion plan in Pai district of Mae Hong Son.

The session was attended by a group of more than 80 people including locals who oppose such a plan as well as representatives from tour operators led by Somboon Thammasakjinda and relevant officials.

The two-hour session involved a heated debate between protesters and tour operators who want the airport to be expanded to attract more tourists to the district.

Sinsamud Phromsuwan, president of the Pai Tourism Business Association, said the association has asked the National Legislative Assembly to consider increasing the Pai airport capacity.

The association insisted it was high time the airport was upgraded and expanded to serve the growing needs of visitors to the district widely known for its nature.

He said an average of 800,000 tourists visit the district annually and the number is rising.

Of this number, 6,000 fly to the district via the only airline operating a regular commercial flight to the airport.

Mr Sinsamud said if the airport was to become bigger, it must at least be able to handle 20,000 visitors per year.

Kan Air is the only airline providing two flights a day between Pai and Chiang Mai, according to him.

Pai airport is located on a 78-rai plot of land and has a 900-metre long runway.

It has sufficient space to park two small aircraft.

A team of NLA members visited Pai district and listened to the tour operators' demands on Feb 25.