King Power 'stalling' until next govt
King Power International Group is suing Airports of Thailand (AOT) only to stave off problems with its concessions to operate the duty-free shop and commercial areas at Suvarnabhumi Airport until a new government is in place, according to an industry source.
King Power is claiming damages of Bt68 billion for the nullification of its concessions. It believes negotiations will be easier under the next government. "Changes are expected in AOT's board of directors then, making for a solution," said the source, adding that King Power wanted to continue operating commercial areas itself rather than have them thrown open to bidding but expected to be handing AOT more benefits. The board wants to open bidding for operation of the duty-free area to other private concerns to ensure market competition. It wants shopkeepers in the commercial areas to sign contracts with it directly. The source stressed that King Power had chosen to fight AOT in the courts until AOT had a new board. AOT, though putting pressure on King Power by not renewing the entrance cards of the company's 390 duty-free-area employees, cannot remove any of the company's shops or dismiss any of its employees of the company without court backing.
Watcharapong Thongrung The Nation
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