The ongoing political deadlock in Thailand will not halt the redevelopment of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok it was confirmed earlier, with plans to build a third runway to proceed.

The £1.1 billion aviation project will also see three provincial airports added across the country.

Air chief marshal Prajin Juntong told reporters in Bangkok: “The second-phase expansion of Suvarnabhumi airport will have to be done quickly to meet increasing numbers of tourists.”

A committee will now be set up look into project details before presenting them to cabinet for approval, he added.

On September 29th, Airports of Thailand, the country’s largest airport operator, said it planned to expand capacity at the main airport.

After seizing power in May, the military junta has scrutinised state enterprises and large projects worth at least $31 billion to ensure transparency and to take control of state companies.

The airport operator said previously the expansion over the next five years would increase capacity at Bangkok’s overcrowded airport to 80 million a year by 2017.