Bangkok--Jan 31--Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited confirmed recent media reports that the implementation date for THAI to begin managing Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong, Bangladesh, has been delayed for a period of one month until 1 March 2006, following a request from Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry of Bangladesh.
Mr. Somchainuk Engtrakul, Member of the Board of Directors Acting as President of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, said that the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry of Bangladesh had contacted THAI with a request to defer the implementation date set for THAI to become the operator of Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong by one month.
The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry of Bangladesh would review the terms of the 10-year contract that was signed during a Management Contract Signing Ceremony between Thai Airways International Public Company Limited and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh.
Based on the terms of the agreement, THAI would provide services to Shah Amanat International Airport in 4 primary activities, those being passenger services, ground equipment services, cargo services, and catering services. In addition, in its role as airport management, THAI would also operate, maintain, and manage the airport terminal building, ramp handling, cargo handling, airport security, maintenance and upkeep of buildings, as well as preventive and routine maintenance.
Other services may also be provided and made under separate contract, those being provision of flight kitchen or catering services. In addition, THAI would be responsible for collecting fees for airport landing charges, security charges, embarkation fees, as well as ground handling related fees on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, coordinating with other air carriers operating to and from the airport in Chittagong.
Regardless of the delay in implementing airport management in Chittagong, THAI awaits the final decision that will be made by the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry of Bangladesh on the contract drawn between Thai Airways International Public Company Limited and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh. For several decades, THAI has provided airline services for customer airlines operating to and from Bangkok International Airport, services that the company would also provide to air carriers operating to and from Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport, accordingly. End.