Aot Affirms Incoming Suvarnabhumi Flights Delay-free

[george]

AoT affirms incoming Suvarnabhumi flights delay-free

BANGKOK: -- Despite Thursday's airport arrival delays, Airports of Thailand, which runs Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, asserted Friday there will be no further delays in incoming flights due to repairs on runways on Friday.

AoT board member Tortakul Yommanak in his capacity as chairman of an 'independent' committee supervising runway and taxiway repairs, that the delay in the incoming flights on Thursday was caused by a traffic jam due to a closing of the west runway for repairs.

Because of this, some flights were forced to circle the airport in a holding pattern Thursday afternoon or land at the U-Tapao military airfield in Chon Buri for refuelling and temporary parking.

He conceded the west runway was closed for urgent repairs that took about five hours to ensure it met safety standards.

Mr. Tortakul blamed the management for its lack of coordination in informing the airlines in advance that the repairs would be taking place.

However, he said Friday that such a problem would not happen again.

To ensure convenience for airlines and passengers, Mr. Tortakul said, the AoT board would liaison with the Royal Thai Air Force for the use of the Don Muang International Airport if there were repairs of the runway and taxiway at the Suvarnabhumi Airport that could cause a traffic jam in a particular period.

Still, the Don Muang airport could not be reopened for now because its runway is also under repairs which are expected to be completed in some 45 days.

As for repairs of the runway and taxiway at Suvarnabhumi Airport, he said, AoT could not yet determine how long it would take since a thorough examination of the cracks is needed.

But initially, he suggested that it is expected to take several months or at least one year for the repairs.

AoT could neither set a clear budget for the repairs and maintenance of the runway and taxiway. But it is expected the spending would range from Bt300 million to Bt3 billion

--TNA 2007-01-26

[astral]

Closing a runway for a while is not unusual.

I have been delayed at KLIA for the same reason.

[Mid]

Still, the Don Muang airport could not be reopened for now because its runway is also under repairs which are expected to be completed in some 45 days.

first mention of this ..................

posponed that argument then ?

[george]

No need to close Suvarnabhumi, says PM

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont reassured the public Friday that there is no need to close the recently opened Suvarnabhumi Airport even though scores of cracks have been found in the taxiways and one runway, saying that the government is giving priority to the safety of passengers and is addressing the problems.

Gen. Surayud said Airports of Thailand (AoT) board member Tortakul Yommanak, in his capacity as chairman of an AoT committee which has been given independent powers to supervise the runway and taxiway repairs, told the cabinet on Tuesday that it expected to take about two weeks to thoroughly examine the cracks.

Meanwhile, he said, Suvarnabhumi Airport could operate as normal and standard safety criteria would be strictly implemented.

However, the prime minister quoted Mr. Tortakul as saying that some passengers may face some inconvenience for the time being.

"The Ministry of Transport and AoT can identify the level of problems within two weeks and evaluate the expected time to repair but there is no need to close the Airport at the moment. We have to wait for the results of the examination," he said.

The Prime Minister said that the government considered the strict implementation safety standards as its top priority and wishes to retain the confidence among foreign airlines that the problems will soon be solved.

--TNA 2007-01-26

[britmaveric]

45days - seems like they should be working day/nite to resolve this.