The Thai government has mooted the idea of establishing a dedicated national cargo carrier to focus on the country’s substantial agricultural exports. “Ibelieve the cargo airline will get off the ground this year,” Thai Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said recentlyaccording to Thai media reports.
The cargo airline might fly out of both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports and the government will soon work out the structure of its management, he said, adding that it would help speed up traffic, especially for agricultural products.
The government would also fine tune regulations to support the private sector in building up the country’s transportation and logistics system, he said noting that transportation accounts for nearly six per cent of all product costs in Thailand.
Thai Airways International, which already offers cargo services utilising the bellyhold capacity of its 85 passenger aircraft along with leased space on partner carriers out of the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, may be asked to operate a new subsidiary to carry only farm products, the minister said while speaking at a recent seminar on the country’s logistics policy and market liberalisation.