The Government of Thailand is accelerating aviation infrastructure modernisation and the adoption of digital technologies in air traffic management to improve flight safety, reduce delays, save fuel and support its ambition to become a world-class aviation hub.
The Ministry of Transport has instructed the Department of Airports and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI) to accelerate a project integrating weather radar data with the Thai Meteorological Department. The system will provide air traffic controllers with real-time weather information, particularly during adverse weather conditions, to improve flight safety and operational efficiency.
Thailand is also developing a System Wide Information Management (SWIM) system in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. The country aims for AEROTHAI to become a SWIM service provider by 2030, enabling greater use of digital platforms for aviation data exchange and connectivity with the global aviation system.
AEROTHAI expects Thailand to handle 919,643 flights in fiscal 2026, averaging 2,520 flights per day and representing a 1.64 per cent increase from fiscal 2025. As of the latest update, 777,456 flights had been recorded, comprising 385,991 international flights, 297,234 domestic flights and 94,231 overflights. AEROTHAI aims to handle more than 1 million flights by 2027.
As part of the modernisation programme, AEROTHAI is developing Digital Tower systems at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports and studying Remote Tower systems for Narathiwat and Betong airports. Procurement is expected to begin in October, with the systems scheduled to enter service in 2028.
AEROTHAI is also developing a System Monitoring and Control (SMC) system to continuously monitor technical systems supporting air traffic management. The system is expected to be deployed at the Hat Yai Air Traffic Control Centre in early 2027 and expanded to nine major air traffic control centres nationwide by 2028.
Meanwhile, AEROTHAI’s Bay of Bengal Cooperative Air Traffic Flow Management System (BOBCAT) is being used to manage air traffic flows for flights transiting Afghanistan’s airspace. The number of flights using the system has increased from an average of 46 to 77 amid conflicts in the Middle East.