Thai Smile interested in partnering AoT for new terminal

Airports of Thailand president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn has told the Bangkok Post it is currently in talks with Thai Airways  Interational (TG, Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi) low-cost subsdiary Thai Smile  (WE,Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi) reagrding its expansion plans for Bangkok, Don Mueang, the Thai capital's older airport.

AoT will reopen a second terminal at Don Mueang in November to cope with the increased passenger figures at the airport predominantly used by low-cost carriers. In a next phase, AoT is considering to find an airline partner to renovate and then operate the airport's old domestic terminal currently sitting idle, with Thai Smile being most interested in both renovation and operation.

According to ch-aviation analysis of schedule data,  Thai Air Asia (FD, Bangkok, Don Mueang) (and its sister carriers) currently operate around 47% of all flights at Don Mueang, followed by Nok Air (DD,Bangkok, Don Mueang) with around 31%,  Thai Lion Air (SL, Bangkok, Don Mueang) with 13% and Thai Smile with just 4%.