Narita execs eyed to manage airport

BBS Consortium, which was awarded the 290-billion-baht Eastern Airport City Project at U-Tapao, is planning to suggest that executives of Tokyo’s Narita Airport run the navy-owned airport in Rayong.

The plan was reportedly revealed while the group was in talks with the navy on the draft contract and technical details of the project. However, no details were provided on the proposal.

An observer said Narita Airport operators are being considered because they have managed to make the Japanese airport earn an average of 5.6 billion baht annually.

Navy chief Adm Luechai Ruddit, who chairs the committee that oversaw the recent bidding for the project, said the navy is basing its decision on the public interest and that it aims to have U-Tapao airport help drive the national economy.

“Negotiations and the contract creating procedure should be completed by March,” he said.

Adm Luechai said his committee decided to give the contract to BBS Consortium because it offered the best proposal on returns generated by the airport city development.

The BBS consortium comprises SinoThai Engineering and Construction Plc, Bangkok Airways Plc and BTS Group Holdings Plc.

The other two bidders for the project were a CP-led group — which included Thana Holding, Italian-Thai Development Plc, Ch Karnchang Plc, B Grimm Joint Ventures Holding Co and Orient Success International Co — and the Grand Consortium, comprising Grande Asset Hotel and Property, Asia Aviation and Christiani & Nielsen (Thai) Plc.

Earlier, the Supreme Administrative Court overruled the Administrative Court’s verdict and ordered the navy to accept the CP-led consortium’s bid, even though the navy said the group had submitted its technical, financial and business plans after the March 21 deadline. The court however ruled that a nine-minute delay does not present any significant advantages or disadvantages for other contenders.

Adm Luechai insisted on transparency saying the consideration came from the original envelopes proposed by each contender.

The documents are being kept in a room at the Navy Club, which is monitored by CCTV and a navy officer.