Community and Society
AOT is committed to conducting its business responsibly according to sustainable development principles, aiming to play a significant role in the country's economic development while building trust with stakeholders through ethical, transparent operations, quality service, and dedicated personnel development adhering to the core values of the organization. Additionally, AOT aspires to instill a culture of sustainable practices, continuously applying modern technology and innovation to enhance competitive capabilities in all dimensions. This focus is on operating with a commitment to sustainable social responsibility and aligning with recognized standards, principles, and guidelines both domestically and internationally. This approach ultimately aims to deliver enduring value to AOT's stakeholders.
Policy and Management Approach
AOT has assigned the Corporate Social Responsibilities Department and CSR-related units in every airport to be responsible for the operation to build participation with the community according to Strategy 2 “Stakeholder Engagement”, and Strategy 3 “Sustainability Initiatives”, under AOT's Sustainable Development Master Plan 2016-2019 and the extension 2020- 2023, which is consistent with Strategy 1.3, Sustainable Development under Airport Strategic Positioning Strategy of AOT's Revised Corporate Plan (Fiscal Years 2017 -2022). Corporate Social Responsibilities Department holds a meeting to report the progress and operational status to the Board of Directors on quarterly basis.
In addition, the Corporate Social Responsibilities Department has prepared the handbook for the stakeholder engagement process at the community level based on international standards and assessments, for example, AA1000 Stakeholder Engagement Standard by Accountability or “AA1000SES”, ISO 26000, Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), and Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI 2021). The handbook objectives are to guide the social activities practitioners at all airports about the scope of operations, specify the purpose of stakeholder engagement, identify stakeholders and prioritize them, as well as choose appropriate tools or methods to engage stakeholders, and explain guidelines for empowering communities to be ready for engagement, coping with potential risks, and communicating the results of public engagement.
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Framework for delivering AOT's social values
AOT operates its business according to “Corporate Citizenship Airport” concept which defines a framework in 4 aspects that are the core for determining and implementing social activities at the organizational and the airport levels, as well as supporting the following goals of sustainable development:
Partnering with local communities
AOT encourages partnerships with local communities to form networks in order to enhance strength for the communities for sustainable mutual growth.
Local Economy Development
AOT has been supporting the growth of the economic systems of areas AOT has been operating in through tourism promotion, local business supports, and services which are related businesses.
Ecosystem Preservation
AOT has always taken part in collaborating with the communities to restore and preserve the ecosystems of areas AOT has been operating in and has also encouraged the preservation of the nearby ecosystems for fertility while maintaining aviation safety.
Human Capital Development
AOT has been providing knowledge asset, skills, and high quality of life to the community members while preserving cultures, customs and local wisdom of the communities.
Stakeholders Database Arrangement at Community Level
AOT operates its business according to “Corporate Citizenship Airport” concept which defines a framework in 4 aspects that are the core for determining and implementing AOT has arranged the community-level stakeholders’ database for all 6 airports to identify relevant stakeholder groups, analyze the expectations, and assess participation guidelines to respond to the needs of relevant stakeholders at the community level precisely. At present, AOT applies 3 criteria to determine the important community areas which are the criteria under
- Environment Impact Assessment EIA
- Airport Emergency Plan
- Noise Contour
Moreover, the database considers vulnerable groups of people such as the youth, the elderly, and foreign workers and also be reviewed regularly according to the changing context. Information from the community-level stakeholder database is also taken into account in the selection of tools/methods and planning of stakeholder engagement at the community level appropriate to high-priority stakeholders. social activities at the organizational and the airport levels, as well as supporting the following goals of sustainable development:
| AOT created community engagement, assess the impact, and carried out social activities as follows | |
|---|---|
| Proportion of airports having environmental and social impact assessments through stakeholder hearing process and continuously monitor impact management | 81% 1 |
| Proportion of airports having the stakeholder engagement strategy through database creation and stakeholder profile and mapping | 100% |
| Proportion of airports conducting social activities at community level (Stakeholder Profile & Mapping) | 100% |
| Proportion of airports having an official process for receiving complaints from the community (Stakeholder Profile & Mapping) | 100% |
1 Hat Yai Airport is the only airport out of 6 that is not required for monitoring and inspecting EIA due to no additional capacity expansion after the promulgation of the Environmental Promotion and Preservation Act B.E. 2535 (1992).
Supporting AOT's social activities.
AOT supports social activities in various forms, including financial support, approving employees' work time for CSR activities, supporting goods or services, and expenses for community relations management. The budget for supporting CSR projects is categorized into 3 categories: non-profit charitable donations, investing in communities for public benefits, and commercial CSR activities.
Charitable Donations
Community Investments
Commercial Investments
Social Return on Investment (SR0I)
AOT evaluates the performance of social activities through listening to community opinions from various visits and in the form of Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis, which can be used to review the effectiveness of the activities, to improve strategy and operational process and to make decision to invest in expanding those activities in the future. Such results can also be used to communicate with stakeholders concretely and universally.
Evaluation results
| Project | SROI |
|---|---|
| HKT Loves Coral | 1 : 7.46 |
| Generating Electricity from Solar Energy in Bamrungraviwan Wittaya School” | 1 : 1.19 |
| Area improvement and Procurement of Equipment to Promote Early Childhood Development | 1 : 1.07 |
Sustainability Initiatives
Level 1
Corporate joint activities/projects
Level 2
Airport joint activities/projects
Level 3
Other activities/projects that are beneficial to maintain relationships between the organization and nearby communities or society in a wide range.
Corporate Sustainable Development Activities
Study visit project at the airport.
The study trip project at the airport increases the opportunity for agencies and educational institutions to visit and learn about airport management such as safety management or public transport management within the airport to create knowledge, understanding and exchange of ideas and also attract personnel to work with AOT in the future.
Sustainable Tourism and Community Product Development Project (AOT Selected)
The Corporate Social Responsibilities Department along with CSR-related operators at every airport is prepared to develop community tourist attractions and community products from major communities surrounding 6 airports. The goal is to enhance the capabilities of communities surrounding the airport through knowledge support and public relations channels. The project is currently in the pilot phase. The implementation involves creating a model community for development of sustainable community tourist attractions and sustainable community products by identifying potential communities surrounding AOT’s airports to assess their needs and potential. Then, supported projects will be designed to strengthen strong points and address weak points in developing sustainable tourist attractions or community products in the near future.
Activities for Sustainable Development: Airport Level
AOT Selected
Sustainable Tourism and Community Product Development Project (AOT Selected)
The Corporate Social Responsibilities Department along with CSR-related operators at every airport is prepared to develop community tourist attractions and community products from major communities surrounding 6 airports. The goal is to enhance the capabilities of communities surrounding the airport through knowledge support and public relations channels. The project is currently in the pilot phase. The implementation involves creating a model community for development of sustainable community tourist attractions and sustainable community products by identifying potential communities surrounding AOT’s airports to assess their needs and potential. Then, supported projects will be designed to strengthen strong points and address weak points in developing sustainable tourist attractions or community products in the near future.
Activities for sustainable development at the organizational level with nearby communities or the wider society
Supporting for Border Patrol Police Schools
AOT prioritizes the development of youth, especially by providing educational opportunities for youth in remote areas. Thus, AOT supports the operations of Border Patrol Police Schools, which include a total of seven schools as follows:
- Border Patrol Police School, Airports of Thailand Public Co., Ltd. (AOT) Celebrates His Majesty the King’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary on December 5, 1999, located at Ban Airjada, Rue So District, Narathiwat Province.
- Border Patrol Police School, Airports of Thailand Public Co., Ltd. Celebrates the 100th Birthday Anniversary of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra, located at Ban Sri Thavorn Phana, Kok Toom Subdistrict, Dong Luang District, Mukdahan Province.
- Border Patrol Police School, Airports of Thailand Public Co., Ltd. Celebrates Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 4th Cycle Birthday Anniversary on April 2, 2003, located at Ban Na To, Mae Salong Nai Subdistrict, Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai Province.
- Border Patrol Police School, Ban Hang Maew (AOT’s 30th Anniversary Patronage), located at Khun Song Subdistrict, Kaeng Hang Maew District, Chanthaburi Province.
- Border Patrol Police School Celebrates His Majesty the King’s 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary (Ban Phae, Tak Province) on the occasion of His Majesty the King’s 84th Birthday in 2011, located at Mae Tuen Subdistrict, Mae Ramat District, Tak Province.
- Border Patrol Police School Celebrates His Majesty the King’s 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary (Ban Mong Kua, Tak Province) on the occasion of His Majesty the King’s 84th Birthday in 2011, located at Mae Chan Subdistrict, Umphang District, Tak Province.
- Border Patrol Police School, Ban Mai Phatthana Santi (AOT Celebrates Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 5th Cycle Birthday Anniversary on April 2, 2015, Patronage), located at Mae Na Chon Subdistrict, Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province.
AOT has continuously supported the operations of these Border Patrol Police Schools annually by allocating a budget of 1,050,000 Baht to the Border Patrol Police Bureau for development and facility improvement projects, as well as enhancing the capacity of educational media. Additionally, AOT has provided scholarships, educational equipment, and other operational support for over 20 years, with total contributions amounting to 75,757,853 Baht. Furthermore, AOT organizes visits by executives and employees to observe and review the operations of these schools every year.
AOT Volunteer Project
The AOT Volunteer Project is the activity to deliver environmental and safety knowledge to the communities surrounding the airport. The staff of AOT is the lecturers to provide knowledge and training on basic firefighting and the sense of care for the environment of young people. In addition to the delivery of knowledge, it also demonstrates expertise in responsive safety standards to the emergency situation and the attention paid to the environment of AOT.
AOT’s Volunteers for
Mangrove Forest Protection Project
Objectives
- To preserve ecosystem in line with AOT’s Sustainable Development Master Plan
- To prevent coastal erosion
- To build good relationships with the communities
- To increase biodiversity
In 2023, AOT organized a volunteer project for mangrove forest protection where executives and employees planted 9,999 mangrove trees on an area of 2 rai at the Bangpu Nature Education Center, Bang Pu Mai Sub-district, Mueang District, Samut Prakan Province. This initiative aimed to restore the mangrove forest, preserve the coastal ecosystem, and increase biodiversity, thereby enhancing marine resources by restoring degraded mangrove forest areas to serve as nursery habitat for coastal aquatic animals in Thailand. The targeted areas for planting mangrove forest will also benefit from carbon credits. This project has been carried out since 2014 to 2022. AOT has planted more than 80,000 mangrove trees in the project area, achieving an average survival rate of 80 percent across a total area of 18 rai. The currently planted mangrove forest can absorb CO2 equivalent to 3,991.31 trees per year.
Last updated: May, 29 2024