In a bid to alleviate congestion in existing flight paths overseen by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Thailand is in discussions with China and Laos regarding the establishment of new air routes.
Nopasit Chakpitak, President of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Co Ltd (Aerothai), announced on March 29 that once the three nations reach an agreement on the proposed aviation routes connecting Thailand and China via Laos, they will seek approval from the ICAO.
Chakpitak indicated that if approved, these routes could potentially open as early as 2026, provided they meet the stringent safety requirements set by the ICAO.
Highlighting the rapid expansion of the airline industry in Asia, particularly in China and India, with over 1,000 aircraft purchase orders, Chakpitak emphasized the pressing need for increased airspace capabilities to accommodate this growth. Aerothai, a state enterprise under the Ministry of Transport, is thus taking proactive measures to address this demand.
The planned parallel routes between Thailand and China are intended to facilitate flights connecting northern Thai provinces such as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai with major Chinese cities including Kunming, Guiyang, Chengdu, Tianfu, Chongqing, and Xian.
Aerothai’s projections suggest a significant increase in flights to Thailand, with an anticipated rise from 800,000 in 2023 to over 900,000 in the current year. This figure is expected to surpass 1 million by 2025, reinstating pre-pandemic levels of air traffic to the country.