BANGKOK, March 15 (TNA) – The government has instructed Airports of Thailand PCL (AOT) to prevent monopoly in its plan to contract only one concessionaire to run duty-free shop services at Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai airports.
Deputy government spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was informed of AOT’s airport duty-free shop policy and opposition from many parties to AOT’s single-contract business model and wanted the AOT’s board of directors and management to have a second thought on the plan.
AOT should study arguments from concerned parties and prioritize the benefits of AOT and the country, Lt Gen Werachon said.
“The prime minister emphasized that the government would find a suitable solution to ensure fairness and the highest interest. The Transport Ministry was assigned to supervise the issue and quickly work out the best direction with AOT,” the deputy government spokesman said.
The Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT) on March 13 asked the prime minister to take action to prevent possible graft in relation to the single-concession policy for the operations of duty-free shops at the four main airports. AOT planned to allow its new concessionaire to operate them for 10 years starting late this year. (TNA)
