Bangkok Airways (PG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) will tender for the duty-free concession covering the main airports in Thailand, including Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, and Bangkok Don Mueang, TRBusiness.com has reported.
Airports of Thailand (AOT), the state-owned operator of the main airports in the country, is expected to award the contract later this year. The concession would not, however, start until 2020, when the current agreement with King Power International expires. The second terminal at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, which will double the airport's capacity, is also expected to open in 2020 and would likely be already covered by the tender.
Bangkok Airways already operates duty-free stores at Koh Samui, where it is also the concessionaire for the airport. The boutique airline also runs duty-free shops at Surat Thani, Utapao, and at Luang Prabang in Laos.
The airline intends to expand its duty-free activities in Thailand and abroad in South East Asia, but for the time being, has no plans to bid for concessions beyond the region.
AOT operates a total of six airports in Thailand, including the two Bangkok gateways, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai.
King Power International is a retail and duty-free giant owned by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, one of Thailand's wealthiest entrepreneurs. Between June 2016 and December 2017, King Power International owned a 36.3% stake in Thai AirAsia (FD, Bangkok Don Mueang) but has since sold its shares.
