AOT URGED TO KEEP EXPANDING AND IMPROVING SERVICE

       Aviation industry and airport experts recommended Airports of Thailand (AOT) keep expanding and improving the quality of its service in order to maintain competitiveness.
       Representatives of major airports including Singpore's Changi Airport and Munich International Airport and Munich International Airport, as well as executives of international aviation associations, also offered their strateges for achieving success and suggested key factors in becoming a regional aviation hub.
       Foo Sek Min, executive vice president of Singapore's Changi Airport, said four key factors in operating a successful airport were continuous investment in infrastructure, efficiency of operations, a focus on service, and creating new experiencees for passengers and other customers.
       He said the success of any airport depends on a combination of efficiency, punctuality, safety and problem-solving.
       "Changi Airport is one of the most successful airports in the region because we keep expanding," he said.
       Aprt from adding a new terminal, Changi Airport is also focused on new opportunities to manage airport out-side the country. It already manages Hue Airport in central Vietnam. "We are listening to our customers and responding to their feedback," he said.
       The airport's new terminal includes non-aviation-related facilities such as hotels and a centre selling perishables, and features solar panels on its roof as part of the airport's evironmentally friendly policy.
       Munich Airport is also creating new activities for travellers. Among the new attractions are flower gardens, celebrity-meeting events, game shows, dance performance and movies.
       Peter Trautmann, Munich InternationalAirport's representative for international projects, said the airport would not be a success without cooperation from all related parties.
       Trautmann said the airport, airlines and passengers all strive to achieve the minimum connecting-flight time, which he said is approximately 30 minutes. Moreover, connections and related activities are all done under roof, with additional conveniencess such as food and beverages, retail shops and relaxation facilities also present.
       Mokhtar A Awan, regional director of the International Civil Aviation Organistion, said Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport is one of the busiest in the world.
       He said the airline and cargo industries and expected to grow further in this region, so all airports must improve facilities and services.
       "Airports should focus not only one cost reduction, but also must assure travellers of security and protect them from unexpected incidents," Awan said. According to Wong Hong, the International Air Transport Association's (LATA) regional durector for industry distribution and financial affairs, the aviation industry is set to recover.
       LATA forecasts the aviation industry will grow 3.3 per cent in 2010.
       The LATA director said the global economic crisis was an opportunity for airlines and airports to restructure their operations and business strategies to enhance efficiency and competitivenes.
       Shun Leung Wong, marketing manager for Airport Council International, said being a successful aviation hub depended on many factors, including location, a strong enconomy, airline volume, quality of customer services, strength of the home base, security and competitive pricing.
       Serirat Prasutanond, president of AOT, said the company recently set up a markeing team that will travel overseas to seek new business.