All plans for a new, private airport on leased public land in Phangnga province have been put on hold by order of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. Bangkok Airways, operator of Samui Airport, has approached provincial authorities with a proposal to lease the 2,000 rai of land in tambon Lam Kaen. The potential site is said to be "degraded forest land". Some people have not given their opinion on it [via a public hearing]," Gen Prawit said. Last year, Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, president of Bangkok Airways, said the company was interested in developing the airport in Phangnga to make it bigger than Samui airport.

Source: Bangkok Post July 06, 2017 22:07 UTC