Airport fee hike to raise airfares, fund infrastructure upgrades: AOT
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Airport fee hike to raise airfares, fund infrastructure upgrades: AOT
14 Sept 08:57Key points summarised by AI
Airports of Thailand (AOT) will increase the International Passenger Service Charge (PSC) from 730 baht to 1,120 baht per person, effective June 20, across its six managed airports.
This fee hike is specifically intended to fund critical infrastructure expansion and modernization projects, not to offset lost concession revenue.
Major development plans include significant investments in Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket International Airports to enhance capacity and facilities.
AOT projects these upgrades will boost the combined annual passenger capacity of its airports to 180 million by 2034, meeting future demand.
Despite the resulting higher airfares, AOT anticipates the increase will not significantly dampen passenger demand.
Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.