Kerati Kijmanawat

Kerati Kijmanawat leads Airports of Thailand (AOT), the state enterprise that operates Thailand's six major airports: Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok's primary international gateway), Don Mueang (Bangkok's second airport and low-cost carrier hub), and airports serving Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Hat Yai. AOT handles approximately 95% of Thailand's international air traffic, making it one of the most important airport operators in Southeast Asia. AOT's business model is straightforward but powerful: aeronautical revenue (landing fees, passenger service charges) plus commercial revenue (duty-free concessions, food and beverage, advertising, car parking). The post-COVID recovery in international tourism to Thailand has been the dominant driver of AOT's financial performance, with passenger numbers climbing back toward pre-pandemic levels driven by Chinese, European, and other Asian tourist arrivals. His strategic priorities include managing the massive Suvarnabhumi Airport expansion project (adding a new terminal and satellite building to increase annual capacity from 45 million to over 60 million passengers), operational efficiency improvements at existing facilities, expanding commercial revenue per passenger, and navigating the competitive landscape as Thailand's aviation market grows and potentially new airport operators enter the scene. AOT's stock is one of the most closely watched tourism recovery plays in Asia.