The capital’s original airport was closed in five years ago when the new, much larger and more modern Suvarnabhumi Airport opened.
Last year, however, with Suvarabhumi approaching capacity, Don Muang – which was inundated in the 2010 floods – was rehabilitated and brought out of mothballs as a base for domestic airlines.
This was later expanded to include regional airlines, low cost carriers such as AirAsia and Nok Air, and international charter flights.
Now, however, it will become, once again, a full-service international airport – as long as the Cabinet approves.
According to the local newspapers, AoT confirmed the plan late last week, after the shift in policy was approved by its board of directors.
Because 70 per cent of the company’s shares are still owned by the government, the plan will have to be approved by the Cabinet.
If the plan gets the green light, Don Muang will be open to all airlines, regardless of their business model.
AoT officials hinted that the OneWorld alliance, led by Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways, had expressed interest in using Don Muang airport.
According to reports, OneWorld also suggested that the airport should be expanded to allow for giant Airbus A380 aircraft to use the airport.
Suvarnabhumi has the capacity of 45 million passengers a year but is now handling over 51 million annually and urgently needs expanding to keep pace with growth.
AoT says that Don Muang should be able to handle 60 million passengers by 2017, taking considerable pressure off Suvarnabhumi.
In a report to the Cabinet resolution in June last year, AoT officials contended that restrictions on the use of Don Muang Airport were counterproductive to the development of the country’s travel industry.
Therefore, AoT argued, the airport should be open to all commercial air services to resume a role as a full-service hub.