Transport Ministry kicks off Seaplane project in Satun

Thansettakij•Economy•13d ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Transport Minister Phattharaphong Phattharaprasit launched a feasibility study for seaplane operations in Satun and the Andaman coast.

•Deputy Transport Minister Phattharaphong Phattharaprasit aims to establish seaplane infrastructure within this year.
•The Satun Model will serve as a pilot to connect tourists to Koh Lipe and other Andaman destinations.
•The Ministry of Transport is pushing for government-led water airports to provide standardized infrastructure.
•A working group in Satun must report preliminary study results to the Ministry of Transport within 30 days.

Overview

•On September 1, 2026, Deputy Transport Minister Phattharaphong Phattharaprasit discussed the feasibility of seaplanes in the Andaman region.
•The Ministry of Transport is pushing for the government to study the establishment of water airports or temporary landing points under state supervision.
•Private airline operators are currently applying for water airport landing licenses, which require environmental reports such as IEE.
•Deputy Transport Minister Phattharaphong Phattharaprasit identified Satun and other southern provinces as strategic tourism areas due to world-renowned islands.
•Deputy Transport Minister Phattharaphong Phattharaprasit requested Satun province to form a working group including the Chamber of Commerce and the Marine Department.
•The government aims to drive Thailand toward becoming a High-Value Tourism hub through seamless connectivity to sea destinations.
•The Satun working group is required to report preliminary study results to the Ministry of Transport within 30 days.

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Key Quotes

Phattharaphong Phattharaprasit

"Our key goal is to push for the establishment of water aircraft landing areas by government agencies to serve as a national air transport infrastructure with international safety standards."

เป้าหมายสำคัญของเรา คือ การผลักดันให้เกิดการจัดตั้งพื้นที่ขึ้นลงของอากาศยานบนผิวน้ำโดยหน่วยงานของรัฐ เพื่อเป็นโครงสร้างพื้นฐานคมนาคมทางอากาศของประเทศที่ได้มาตรฐานความปลอดภัยสากล

Key Entities

Person

Phattharaphong Phattharaprasit(ภัทรพงศ์ ภัทรประสิทธิ์)

Deputy Minister of Transport.

Organization

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️

The ministry responsible for pushing the seaplane industry and water airport infrastructure.

Chamber of Commerce(หอการค้า)ℹ️

One of the sectors requested to be part of the Satun seaplane feasibility working group.

Federation of Thai Industries(สภาอุตสาหกรรม)ℹ️

One of the sectors requested to be part of the Satun seaplane feasibility working group.

Marine Department(กรมเจ้าท่า)

A government agency requested to join the Satun seaplane feasibility working group.

Place

Satun(สตูล)ℹ️

A province in the south of Thailand being used as a model for seaplane implementation.

Andaman(อันดามัน)

The coastal region where the government aims to upgrade transport networks for high-value tourism.

Koh Lipe(เกาะหลีเป๊ะ)ℹ️

A key island destination to be connected via seaplane.