AOT's Chana may be forced out: source

A failing grade would be due to his lack of cooperation with politicians.

The source, who asked not to be named, said the board would review Chana's performance next week now that he has passed six months in office.

"During that period, Chana has not pushed for bidding for several projects at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and there have been delays in settling the ongoing dispute with the King Power Group. This displeases politicians, who have ordered hand-picked directors to pressure Chana to resign or disqualify him," he said.

The insider said although politicians were intervening in AOT, ex-soldier Chana had refused to follow their orders, instead putting everything onto the agenda at board meetings.

"Chana understands the displeasure he's caused, but negotiates with the board to maintain good relations so he'll be able to return to the Royal Thai Air Force later after he resigns," the source said.

Chana won the job when General Saprang Kalayanamitr was chairman. The performance evaluation was originally scheduled for last month, but the new board, chaired by Budget Bureau director-general Vudhibhandhu Vichairatana, delayed it to June 5. But the evaluation still has not been done.

AOT is in the process of spending more than Bt74 billion in the second phase of Suvarnabhumi Airport's construction, the plan of which has been approved by the Cabinet. It will also develop some land for commercial use.