Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has approved a 5.7-billion-baht project to build a new passenger terminal at Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport, aiming to handle up to 7 million passengers annually.
Airport general manager Sqn Ldr Somchanok Thiemthiabrat said the terminal is set to be completed by 2032, boosting the airport’s current capacity from 1.9 million to 6 million passengers per year. Consultants have already been appointed to prepare the terminal’s conceptual design.
He emphasized that the new terminal is a crucial investment for Chiang Rai and will require strong cooperation among stakeholders to meet the seven-year target.
Located on a 753-rai site, the airport has set aside around 50 rai for a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre to support future demand. With China projected to become the world’s largest air transport market, Thailand is seen as a competitive MRO hub due to its location and cost advantages.
The MRO project, which has passed its environmental impact assessment, is expected to begin construction soon. Somchanok said it will serve as a foundation for Thailand’s wider aerospace industry — similar to Singapore’s role in aircraft assembly and full-service repairs — and help transform Chiang Rai into an “Air Metropolis” for the region.
