CityNews – Plans have been revealed that a new international airport will be built in Lamphun to accommodate more flights, including Boeing 737 and Airbus A380 aircraft, to the north of Thailand.
Lampang Governor, Samart Loyfa, revealed the plans when he was interviewed on the radio about talk about a new international airport being built in Lampang.
He clarified that Lampang was chosen not to have a new international airport as it was too far away from Chiang Mai, so the plans were moved to Lamphun.
The new airport, if given the go ahead, will be called the Queen Jammathewi New International Airport, and will built in the Ban Thi area of Lamphun.
Lampang’s current airport will also be developed to receive more flights and accommodate Boeing 737 and Airbus A380 aircraft.
The Queen Jammathewi New International Airport will be 70 kilometres from Chiang Mai, so transportation routes need to also be developed for people traveling to and from Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai is expected to see 12 million tourists by 2019 and over 14 million by 2025.
Additional assessments need to be conducted before the plans can be implemented, including aeronautical sutiability for control towers, the suitability of the land, the affect on the local community and economy, environmental impacts and cost effectiveness.
