The Airports of Thailand (AOT) has revealed plans to transform six international airports it oversees into “green” airports, aligning with the national policy aimed at achieving net zero emissions.
Under the stewardship of the AOT are Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang, Phuket, and Hat Yai airports, which collectively handle 95% of domestic and international flight traffic.
The green airport initiative emphasizes four key areas: Connectivity, system integration, sustainability, and airport size, as outlined by Jakkraphob Jarassri, AOT’s chief advisor for engineering and construction.
His remarks came during the “Road to Net Zero 2024: The Extraordinary Green” seminar, organized by Thansettakij newspaper on Thursday.
Jakkraphob detailed that under the connectivity goal, the AOT is set to enhance its facilities and establish connections with other transportation modes such as railways and ferries, ensuring smooth travel across Thailand’s key locations.
Furthermore, the AOT plans to integrate various services, including immigration, ticketing, and hotel bookings into a single platform, simplifying the travel process, Jakkraphob added.
Regarding sustainability, the focus is on fostering an eco-friendly airport environment in cooperation with local communities, aimed at reducing the long-term environmental impact of airport activities.
“As for airport size, we realised that large airports are not always necessary, and will try to keep these suitable for users’ needs while still maintaining efficiency and convenience,” said Jakkraphob.
Jakkraphob also mentioned that in an effort to support Thailand’s commitment to lower carbon emissions in transportation, AOT actively monitors energy consumption at its facilities, predominantly from air conditioning and other systems.
He concluded by stating, “We try to reduce energy usage to minimize greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible. The AOT also plans to purchase carbon credits in the future to offset the portion of emissions that we cannot reduce.”
