Mr. Phoun Khampha, the director of Bokeo Airport, spoke with GATC Thailand in December at the airport premises and disclosed that it will officially open in May this year.
During the interaction, the interviewer, Dr. Sittipat Mongkolapibalkul, discussed the overall progress of the Bokeo airport construction with Mr. Phoun.
The director indicated that there are plans to expand the airport’s size from its current size of 3,200 meters to 4,000 meters. Following its expansion, Bokeo International Airport would be even bigger than Vientiane’s Wattay International Airport.
According to Mr. Phoun, the airport will be able to handle around 500,000 passengers per year when it opens in May.
He also added that after the expansion is complete, the airport would be able to manage passenger traffic of up to 2 million people annually.
The airport is located five kilometers from Bokeo’s Special Economic Zone and 60 kilometers from Bokeo’s Huayxay region.
Mr. Phoun said that the airport is currently employing 300 local workers, to give employment opportunities to those who were impacted by the development.
The airport’s architectural idea is based on a swan and its wings, with a well-shaped glass in the center signifying “Bokeo,” which means a glass well. Each structure pillar is likewise shaped like an opera flower.
One wing of the airport will be dedicated to international flights, while the other will be dedicated to domestic flights.
The construction of Bokeo Airport started in 2020 and was scheduled to be completed in 2022. However, because of the Covid-19 epidemic, the process was delayed and will be completed by early 2023.
