Budget airlines operating in Bangkok, Thailand, have been ordered to move to older Don Mueang Airport. The move is intended to reduce congestion at the main Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
The move has been ordered by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who says budget airlines should be offered incentives to relocate, but was announced Thursday, March 15, by Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa.
Domestic budget airline Nok Air is currently the only commercial airline operating from Don Mueang Airport. The other airlines that would be affected include Bangkok Airways, Orient Thai, and AirAsia.
Suvarnabhumi Airport was designed with a capacity of 45 million passengers per yet, but is expected to handle 51 million passengers in 2012. Shifting budget and chartered airlines to Don Mueang Airport could reduce passenger traffic by 15-20 million passengers per year.
