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Bangkok Airport Fiasco
Posted: 2007-02-12, 1:10 am

420 Power Kat
Posts: 1021
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AIRPORT FIASCO
Govt urged to close Suvarnabhumi

NLA investigation chief cites safety fears in calling for a total and immediate shift back to Don Muang


The fate of the Bt150-billion Suvarnabhumi Airport hangs in the balance as an investigation panel is due to reveal the cause of damage to the taxiways and runways at the landmark transport hub.


The government appears to be divided about whether the airport should be closed for repairs, amid fears that such a move could shake international confidence in the Kingdom's infrastructure.


Admiral Bannawit Keng-rien, chairman of the National Legislative Assem-bly's airport committee, yesterday stood by his suggestion that the airport should be closed if both runways were damaged.


"The closure would be for the sake of safety," Bannawit said.


His committee was established to tackle the problems surrounding the flagship airport, which only opened in late September.


Bannawit maintained his suggestion despite Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's insistence that the airport should remain open so as not to damage international confidence.


It could stay open while repairs are completed, the premier said on Saturday.


A panel headed by Tortrakul Yomnark will today reveal the problems faced by the airport, how the repairs should be conducted and whether closure is necessary.


A civil engineer by trade, Tortrakul is a board member of the Airports of Thailand and his panel has conducted a technical assessment of the runways.


Tortrakul's panel will report its investigation results to Transport Minister Admiral Theera Haocharoen before making the findings public.


A source said the Tortrakul panel had found serious cracks on the taxiways, with further damage on the northern part of the east runway and the southern end of the western landing strip.


The insider said the runway repairs could be made without disrupting flight schedules.


"Services can alternate between the two runways," the source said.


Krai Tungsnga, a member of the Bannawit panel, said the airport's problems were not serious enough to force it to close. However, Bannawit said yesterday that if Suvarnabhumi were closed, Don Muang would be able to accommodate flight and airfreight services.


"I propose closure because it will prevent problems from dragging on," he said.


Meanwhile, Thai Airways International's union has condemned plans to allow Bangkok to have two international airports. And Demo-crat Party's spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon urged the government to set up another committee to investigate Suvarnabhumi's problems.


"A committee of experts should look at all problems, not just the taxiways and runaways. What about the water leakage, inadequate lighting and overheating in the terminal?" Ong-art asked. He said the government should act against those responsible for the airport's problems.

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Re: Bangkok Airport Fiasco
Posted: 2007-02-12, 9:49 pm

tw25rw Power Kat
Posts: 703
Location: London
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Have used the airport 6 times and like it. Only problem was a suitcase that didn't make the flight.. Helps if you know in advance where to go to get normal taxis etc. Like it much more than Heathrow or Schiphol.

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Re: Update
Posted: 2007-02-17, 5:35 pm

420 Power Kat
Posts: 1021
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As you can see, I am jonesing for a Thailand adventure,,,just not at the airport!!



Tuesday February 6, 11:12 PM
Thailand to reopen old airport, giving Bangkok two hubs
ADVERTISEMENT



AFP Photo


Thailand said it will reopen Bangkok's shuttered Don Muang airport amid mounting problems at its sparkling new air hub, despite fears the move will create confusion for millions of tourists.

The decision caught airlines and aviation officials by surprise. The military-installed government had only been expected to consider moving some domestic flights back to Don Muang temporarily.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said reopening Don Muang was needed to allow for repair work at Suvarnabhumi and to prevent overcrowding as traffic at the new airport steadily increases.

"The cabinet has decided to maintain two international airports for our country because there have been many setbacks at Suvarnabhumi Airport and we need to prepare to handle more passengers in the future," he told reporters.

Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen said Don Muang would be ready to resume commercial operations within 45 days.

"Don Muang will permanently re-open and we are now considering which airlines are to move back," Thira told reporters.

The decision marked a spectacular turnaround for the government, which opened Suvarnabhumi to great fanfare just days after the military seized power in a coup in a September.

Suvarnabhumi was supposed to become a sparkling symbol of modern Thailand and Southeast Asia's preeminent air hub.

Instead the airport has become mired in problems ranging from cracks in the taxiways and runways, to allegations of graft and complaints about sanitation.

The military-backed government has blamed the problems on ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra's rush to open the three-billion-dollar airport, which was one of his pet projects.

But Suvarnabhumi has been dogged by scandal since its construction was first mooted four decades ago. The current government opened the airport despite warnings from airlines that it might not be ready for full commercial traffic.

Airlines, including flag carrier Thai Airways, said they would have to wait for the government to release detailed plans before deciding whether to move.

Thai Airways had previously agreed to move some domestic flights to Don Muang while keeping international flights and popular tourist routes at the new airport.

But for many airlines, moving back to Don Muang could mean a huge lost investment in setting up operations at the new airport.

"The airline has spent a huge amount of money at Suvarnabhumi Airport," said Nandhika Varavarn, a spokeswoman for Bangkok Airways, Thailand's largest private airline.

Peter Harbison, executive chairman of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation in Sydney, said the new airport had legitimate concerns about rising traffic, but that splitting service between two hubs could discourage international carriers from using Bangkok as a regional base.

"If they have a split hub, it makes things extremely complicated and much less attractive too," he said.

"It's a fairly drastic step to be in an uncertain way like that," he said.

International carriers have warned that maintaining two airports could cause confusion for tourists and lead to delays if travellers get stuck in Bangkok's notorious traffic while they try to make connections.

Suvarnabhumi opened with a capacity of 45 million passengers a year and plans to expand to accommodate 100 million. Thailand now says those plans are now on hold.

Thailand's civil aviation chief Chaisak Angkasuwan dismissed the worries, saying Bangkok should be no different than other big cities with more than one airport.

"In Tokyo or France, they operate more than one international airport in a big city so I don't see any obstacle for Thailand to do the same thing," Chaisak told AFP.


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Re: Update
Posted: 2007-02-18, 12:46 am

tw25rw Power Kat
Posts: 703
Location: London
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Don't worry about the airport. It's fine.

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Re: Update
Posted: 2007-02-20, 3:23 pm

Thaipan
Posts: 256
Location: UK
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From the current edition of Asian Bugle:

Yet another month in Bangkok has been dominated by one subject: Suvarnabhumi airport. The “will it close or won't it saga”, complete with the “will the runways last or not” debate; and the “can the sun be stopped shining through the glass roof” deliberation; and the “how many more loos do they really need” discussion; and the weighing up of whether the main structure is about suffer the same fate as the tarmac; and then there is the issue of putting King Power back in their box, or more precisely into the areas they were supposed to occupy as opposed to the land grab they have managed; and then there is the signage, the too small arrivals greeting hall, not to mention the air conditioning, or lack of it; and the miles and miles passengers have to walk to get to their gate, or vice versa. Then finally some good news: the baggage system no longer breaks down daily, just weekly! Lastly there is the “who, and which routes, will move back to Don Muang” debate, as well as the “should Bangkok now use two airports” argument.
And despite this shambles, (is there another word?), it seems nobody can be prosecuted because nobody can be proved to be responsible! And the average Thai in the street just shrugs and says corruption (what can I do about it?)! If you don't laugh you would cry!
And whilst this is all happening Wacky Tacky, the mastermind of this massive monument to all that is wrong in LOS, is charging around the region saying 'not me guv, it is all untrue.' And nobody at this end seems to be able to do any more than say 'yah boo: we will get you in the end……..well maybe.'
It is like a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Jerry keeps popping up all over the place and Tom is always too late, or too slow, or just dumb!

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One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble and a humble man hard!
Re: Update
Posted: 2007-02-20, 9:26 pm

tw25rw Power Kat
Posts: 703
Location: London
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If you're there as a passenger rather than structural engineer, it's fine. Much nicer than LHR or Schiphol.

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No muff too tuff.
Re: Update
Posted: 2007-04-16, 5:20 pm

Thaipan
Posts: 256
Location: UK
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Quote:
If you're there as a passenger rather than structural engineer, it's fine. Much nicer than LHR or Schiphol.


Just about any airport is better than LHR!

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One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble and a humble man hard!
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