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PussyLover 69
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Quote: from Tyfon on 6:29 pm on Jan. 13, 2007
Not wishing to tread on PL's toes but this is from The Nation today
Don't worry about me ! You are most welcome to post news articles that are of interest to BTF members......
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Posted on: 9:22 pm on Jan. 14, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 15 January 2007 :-
Call for partial opening only
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Only the domestic passenger terminal at Don Muang airport should be reopened, for use by non-connecting domestic flights, if the government decides the old airport should resume operations, THAI president Apinan Sumanaseni said yesterday.
He was commenting on calls for the reopening of Don Muang to relieve the increasingly congested new Suvarnabhumi airport.
Mr Apinan said although part of the international terminal could be used for domestic flights, the building was not designed for local flights and airlines and passengers would find it less convenient.
At the international building, passengers frequently have to walk nearly one kilometre from their plane to the baggage conveyor, but they can take a short cut and walk only 200 metres if their plane parks at the concourse of the domestic building.
There are two international buildings at Don Muang - terminals 1 and 2.
The focus is on Terminal 1 after Don Muang airport director Pinit Saraithong suggested that it should serve domestic flights.
The building has been used for charter flights since Don Muang airport was closed in August.
According to Mr Pinit, the use of both the domestic and international buildings would be more expensive.
Airports of Thailand (AoT) president Chotisak Asapaviriya said he agreed with THAI's proposal if it was done for the sake of passengers.
However, airport fees at Don Muang airport had to be the same as those at Suvarnabhumi airport, he said.
The AoT board last week supported moving point-to-point domestic flights back to Don Muang.
This would allow postponement of additional investment in facilities, including a new passenger terminal, at Suvarnabhumi airport for four to five years.
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Posted on: 9:26 pm on Jan. 14, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 16 January 2007 :-
Only three airlines set to move to Don Muang Airport
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Only three carriers including Thai Airways International are prepared to move their non-connecting domestic operations to Don Muang Airport, raising questions whether the shift would ease crowding at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The other two airlines that are prepared to move are the budget carriers One-Two-Go and Nok Air, whereas Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways have opted to remain at the new airport.
Their willingness to move point-to-point domestic flights to the old airport is driven by a desire to relieve passengers and staff of the inconveniences and frustration they are enduring at Suvarnabhumi.
On the passenger side, the problems involve long queues for check-in, long waits for baggage and long walks to boarding gates, while airlines have been subject to flight delays due to poor traffic management and congestion.
THAI, One-Two-Go and Nok Air are reportedly prepared to pay the additional costs in setting up separate operations at Don Muang, which was closed on Sept 28 when Suvarnabhumi opened.
However, Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways prefer to stay at Suvarnabhumi due partly to the high costs of operating at two sites. They also do not want to lose connections with their international flights.
Both Nok Air chief executive Patee Sarasin and One-Two-Go vice-chairman Kajit Habanananda said yesterday that passengers' convenience overshadowed the incremental costs involved in setting up again at Don Muang.
"We are ready to go back to Don Muang on 30 days' notice," Mr Patee said, adding that all of Nok Air's current flights were domestic point-to-point.
Mr Kajit said One-Two-Go was prepared to absorb and costs arising from move and would not pass it on to passengers.
THAI president Apinan Sumanaseni said that the sooner the national carrier could move its non-connecting flights to Don Muang, the better it would be for its passengers, who are mostly Thais.
Both Mr Apinan and Mr Kajit said their airlines could start their flights out of Don Muang on March 15.
Meanwhile, Bangkok Airways said its operations had been built around Suvarnabhumi and that Don Muang was not in its plans. M.L. Nandhika Varavarn, vice-president for corporate communication, said 90% of Bangkok Airways' passengers were foreigners who required connections with international flights.
Thai AirAsia chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld said that unless Airports of Thailand Plc allowed it to also shift its international services to Don Muang, it would rather remain at Suvarnabhumi. "We cannot afford to split our operations at two sites. It doesn't make economic sense."
Instead, Mr Tassapon urged AoT to speed up consideration of a plan it had outlined earlier to build a special terminal for budget carriers at Suvarnabhumi.
Aviation analysts estimate anywhere from 15% to 30% of the load at Suvarnabhumi could be reduced by reopening Don Muang for commercial flights.
Mr Apinan said THAI could make a "significant" contribution by moving.
The national carrier operates about 300 domestic flights a week. It wants to offer certain flights on three domestic routes frequented by foreign tourists - from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi - at Suvarnabhumi to facilitate connections.
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Posted on: 8:57 pm on Jan. 15, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 17 January 2007 :-
Commentary : Re-opening Don Muang makes sense
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By Boonsong Kositchotethana
It is a sensible move by the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) to finally decide to heed the aviation experts' advice to shift point-to-point domestic commercial flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport back to the old Don Muang base. The AoT's resolution made last Thursday should be regarded as the only practical solution available in the short term to deal with the congestion at Bangkok's new international airport barely four months after its opening, which has been full of deficiencies.
The re-opening of the 92-year-old airport for non-connecting domestic flights could potentially relieve 15-30% of the load from Suvarnabhumi, which is expected to reach its full capacity of handling 45 million passengers this year.
Shifting some commercial flights to Don Muang would limit the magnitude of extensive problems - which have plagued the new airport right from day one - from escalating further.
The estimated size of traffic relief, even though it may look small, is beneficial to all parties concerned, especially domestic passengers, who have to endure an unpleasant travel experience through Suvarnabhumi.
The traffic relief becomes even more critical if one considers that part of the new airport needs to be closed down to facilitate fixing, which is sorely needed.
If the decision to redirect domestic services back to Don Muang makes so much common sense, there is no reason why Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen should come out to express reservations about the move.
It is less than necessary for Adm Thira to drag his feet by organising another brainstorming session to weigh the pros and cons of re-opening Don Muang for non-connecting domestic flights before seeking cabinet approval.
Perhaps the issue has already been sufficiently debated and the outcome has pointed clearly to the fact that Don Muang indeed offers an immediate and tangible solution to the woes at Suvarnabhumi.
This is the kind of damage control initiative which the AoT should now begin to seriously adopt and immediately put into action to correct all the flaws seen at Suvarnabhumi.
However, re-directing some commercial flights to Don Muang on a voluntary basis starting on March 15, should not be taken as a move to deviate from the government's single-airport policy for Bangkok, which should continue to be unwaveringly pursued.
Don Muang should not be revived as a second Bangkok international airport, but should be retained as an alternate airport, providing spare capacity for Suvarnabhumi when needed, like it is now, and for emergency purposes.
With extensive infrastructure already in place there, Don Muang can be given a major new role _ a platform for developing a truly world-class aerospace industry.
These include aircraft repair, maintenance, refurbishment and painting, serving massive numbers of aircraft flying now and in the future.
But it is imperative for the government, which owns 70% in AoT, to immediately push the airport monopoly, which has seemed indifferent to complaints and criticism from the public and industry, into action mode by fixing problems at the new airport.
Indeed, complaints and deficiencies, along with a list of recommendations on fixing the problems, have been well documented by all parties concerned, even before its Sept 28 opening.
The AoT has known too well about drawbacks in the baggage systems, cracking taxiways, toilet shortages, poor air-conditioning and lighting and overall terminal cleanliness, etc.
The AoT has identified 61 problem areas at Suvarnabhumi - the result of widespread corruption, project mismanagement, poor and substandard construction work and materials - which is now estimated to require about 1.5 billion baht to fix.
As important as fixing the problems, the authorities must come up with a clear and committed airport strategy, giving a specific role for Suvarnabhumi as the kingdom's aviation hub. It is therefore crucial for the AoT to proceed now with the expansion of the new airport, which was put on the back burner.
Boonsong Kositchotethana is Deputy Assignment Editor (Business), Bangkok Post.
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Posted on: 9:55 pm on Jan. 16, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 17 January 2007 :-
Two groups opposed to reuse of Don Muang Airport
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The Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) and Thai Hotels Association (THA) voiced their objection to a plan to move most of domestic flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Muang Airport because it would cause inconvenience to travellers.
ADT's president Charoen Wangananont, said the using of two airports in Bangkok would not help travellers both domestically and internationally because some of these travellers who had to transit from domestic routes to international routes would face the obstacles from having to travel from one airport to the other.
The two airports are located far apart without mass transportation system to connect them yet.
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Posted on: 10:11 pm on Jan. 16, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 17 January 2007 :-
Opposition to Don Muang Airport plan mounts
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Travel and hotel bodies warn of inconvenience, especially to international travellers
The Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) and the Thai Hotels Association (THA) yesterday voiced their objection to a plan to move most domestic flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Muang Airport as it would inconvenience travellers.
ADT president Charoen Wangananont said the use of two airports in Bangkok would not help, because those who had to fly on both routes would have to travel from one airport to the other.
The two airports are located far apart without a mass-transportation system to connect them yet.
"Imagine people living in Ubon Ratchathani province who have to travel abroad. They will need to get a flight to Don Muang Airport and then take a bus or a taxi to Suvarnabhumi Airport, which could take two or three hours on the road, said Charoen.
"This will annoy travellers."
Earlier this month, the Airports of Thailand (AOT) board of directors approved moving most of the domestic flights from Suvarnabhumi to Don Muang tentatively from March, due to traffic congestion at Suvarnabhumi. The Cabinet is set to make a decision at its meeting next week.
Charoen said although AOT had said it would maintain domestic flights with international connection, such as Phuket, at Suvarnabhumi, some travellers connecting to other flights to Phuket from elsewhere would have to go to Don Muang.
"The connecting flight time might take longer than flying between Suvarnabhumi and Phuket," he said. Passengers will end up paying more for transportation. Charoen said the plan to revive Don Muang had been proposed without proper study or research, particularly about return on investment.
"The government bodies just want to re-use the old airport, but they have not discussed the details in-depth," he added.
Charoen suggested using the old airport as an optional or reserved airport rather than for commercial flights.
Prakit Chinamourpong, vice president of THA, made the same point, saying the association disagreed with the plan, because it would cause trouble for connecting passengers.
Apichart Sankary, president of Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said that the body had urged the government and AOT to inform the private sector three months before moving domestic flights to Don Muang, so that they could make preparations.
"I also told AOT to find out whether they would provide free shuttle buses between the two airports," said Apichart.
ATTA urged the government to complete the airport link if it wants to reopen the old airport soon.
Representatives of inbound tour operator CTS Travel Asia, and a hotel operator in Phuket, Club Andaman, said they support the reopening of Don Muang Airport as they believed the airport still had a good infrastructure and cheaper operation costs.
"The new Suvarnabhumi Airport has been open for just four months, but it has already reached full capacity. So Don Muang can be used to accommodate more flights or charter flights," one of the operators added.
The reopening of Don Muang could also help businesses, especially airport hotels and shops, located in the north part of Bangkok.
ATTA figures show tourists using its members from January 1-14 totalled 97,501, 9.1 per cent down from 107,265 in the same period last year.
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Posted on: 10:18 pm on Jan. 16, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 20 January 2007 :-
More woes at troubled new airport - Runway subsidence claims, probe ordered
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Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen has ordered an investigation into a report of land subsidence and cracks on a runway at Suvarnabhumi airport. But the airport's director Somchai Sawasdeepol denied there was any subsidence in the runway now in use although he agreed experts must find the cause of problems on taxiways.
Adm Theera said he ordered agencies to conduct an investigation immediately after receiving the report.
According to sources at the Transport Ministry and Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT), AoT board member Tortrakul Yomnak reported slight subsidence on a runway at Suvarnabhumi during a meeting yesterday on the re-use of Don Muang airport.
Adm Theera and his deputy, Sansern Wongcha-um, immediately met with Mr Tortrakul and Yodyiem Theptharanont, another AoT board member, to discuss what they saw as a serious problem.
The sources quoted Mr Tortrakul as saying the subsidence had been spotted at the ''takeoff'' area. He advised closure of the runway for repairs but warned that the problem may recur.
Mr Sansern confirmed that Mr Tortrakul had made the clarification. Mr Sansern said this concerned the area where airplanes waited before taking off, and said he would inspect the runway himself next week.
According to an AoT source, cracks were found at the takeoff area of the western runway. As an immediate solution, pilots were advised to shift their takeoff area. The western runway would be closed for repairs and the eastern runway would be used instead, the source said.
A contractor who asked not to be named said excessive underground water which had caused taxiways to swell up and crack could also pose problems to the runways at Suvarnabhumi airport.
A runway with soaked foundations could gradually subside due to the heavy weight of landing flights.
During the floods last year, contractors warned AoT of possible problems with the runway, the source said.
Contractors sought permission to pump excessive water out of the airport right away but AoT did not grant it for fear of causing trouble to communities around the airport.
The AoT source said it had asked a Japanese contractor to repair the crack but the contractor refused, saying the damage was not its fault.
AoT would tell the contractor to repair the runway and later claim the cost from its insurer, the source said.
Mr Somchai, director of Suvarnabhumi airport, said contractors had reported on the level of water in ditches around runways during last year's floods.
Mr Somchai denied any of the runways in use were subsiding. As for the water seeping underground, he said specialists must be hired to test both runways and taxiways.
Meanwhile, yesterday's meeting on the possible re-use of Don Muang airport was inconclusive.
Adm Theera said he would consult his deputy and a proposal should be submitted to the cabinet in the next few weeks.
Sources said most airlines want Don Muang to serve only non-connecting domestic flights. Most low-cost airlines prefer Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi but Thai AirAsia said it might have to invest in a separate terminal for no-frills service at Suvarnabhumi airport.
Demand for the re-use of Don Muang, currently serving only chartered flights, is gaining momentum due to congestion and problems with taxiways and runways at Suvarnabhumi.
Don Muang airport director Pinit Saraithong said the return of non-connecting domestic flights would bring annual traffic to five million passengers.
The old airport should earn 50 million baht a month from the return of regular flights to the airport, he said.
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Posted on: 2:45 am on Jan. 20, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 20 January 2007 :-
Foreign pilots on domestic routes opposed
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The Thai Pilots Association has argued against the Civil Aviation Department's plan to allow foreign pilots to fly on domestic routes, claiming it could jeopardise national security.
Permsak Thongpaibul, president of the association, recently filed a complaint with Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen, saying the department's proposal to amend the Thai Aviation Act of 1954 was aimed at allowing foreign pilots to work for new airlines operating local services, especially no-frills ones.
However, he said, such a change would do more harm than good.
The association disagreed with the proposal because it would allow foreigners to gain knowledge about strategic locations in Thailand, said Mr Permsak.
If the ministry failed to deal with this matter, the association would lodge a complaint with the Administrative Court, he added.
However, he said, the association agreed in principle with the department's initiative to amend the aviation act so as to bring it up to international standards.
Department chief Chaisak Angsuwan said the ban on foreign pilots should be lifted to make sure there would be no shortage if local pilots could not be trained fast enough. "If the Thai Pilots Association has any ideas about this legal amendment, it can make its own proposal," he said.
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Posted on: 3:21 am on Jan. 20, 2007
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DaffyDuck
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Quote: from PussyLover 69 on 5:09 pm on Jan. 20, 2007
A contractor who asked not to be named said excessive underground water which had caused taxiways to swell up and crack could also pose problems to the runways at Suvarnabhumi airport.
Brilliant move to build an airport on swampland... I guess the old joke about having some swampland for sale is no joke in Thailand.
So, who's gonna bet when the airport gets shuttered, if any of this continues to hold true...?
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 11:29 am on Jan. 20, 2007
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Mel Gibson
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I arrived tuesday afternnon into the new airport.I had no problem finding my way 9 signs) saw no 4 inch gaps in the flooring concrete etv etc,,My single complaint was that the exhaust fan in the smoking room was NOT working,, I love a cigarrette but not 40 cigarrettes at the same time.
Initially after going to the taxi stand, the line was long,, but quickly they opened a second queue,,, 5 minutes later we are on our way. the airport is further away from Sukumvit than I expected but very little traffick until we neared Sukumvit.
Basically, the airport is very functional and not a great head-ache.
Mel.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 3:41 pm on Jan. 20, 2007
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