Don Muang To Be Used For Some Domestic Flights

Some flights will use Don Muang

Transport backs move from Suvarnabhumi

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

The Transport Ministry has agreed to move some domestic flights from Suvarnabhumi airport back to Don Muang to reduce congestion at the new airport, which requires space for repairs.

Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen said yesterday the plan will go to the cabinet for approval next Tuesday. Relocation of flights, on a voluntary basis, would be 45-60 days after that.

The board of Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) on Jan 11 called for the reopening of Don Muang airport for domestic flights with no international connections.

Adm Theera and his deputy Sansern Wongcha-um backed the move at a meeting with executives of the Civil Aviation Department and AoT yesterday.

Adm Theera said cracked taxiways and runways, damaged airbridges and problems in the passenger terminal had caused congestion at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The partial return to Don Muang would ease congestion by about 30% and allow repairs. "The return will be on a voluntary basis. It is not compulsory. Any party that wants to remain at Suvarnabhumi can stay," he said.

He was seriously worried about problems at Suvarnabhumi, especially issues that concern safety on taxiways, runways and in the passenger terminal.

Civil Aviation Department director-general Chaisak Angsuwan said some facilities at the new airport needed partial closure for repairs. Neither he nor Adm Theera could say if Don Muang should return to active service permanently. That would depend on work at Suvarnabhumi.

Thai Airways International president Apinan Sumanaseni said it would assign part of its staff to Don Muang airport. Flights to Chiang Mai, Krabi and Phuket would be available at both airports and THAI would provide a passenger shuttle service.

He suggested the use of Don Muang's domestic terminal to keep passengers' walk short.

Thai AirAsia chief executive officer Tassapon Bijleveld said the airline could not move only its domestic flights to Don Muang because its domestic and international flights had to share aircraft.

Don Muang airport director Pinit Saraithong said it could be re-activated for domestic services in two weeks. However, it would take 45 days to ensure safety because the airport's western runway was uneven and must be repaired.

But AoT prefers to use International Terminal 1 at Don Muang as it is already active for government and chartered flights. An upgrade would cost about 66 million baht and include renovating the terminal and the recruitment of commercial and transport service providers.

In addition to operating problems at Suvarnabhumi, AoT board members and the ministry were upset about the use of commercial areas at the new airport.

They believed King Power Group was breaching the concession agreement.

King Power Group chief executive officer Vichai Raksriaksorn said the contract provided for the development of 20,000 square metres. The company actually occupied 21,065 square metres, but international practice allowed for an appendix to make the increment official and the contractor can offer an additional return, he said.

In the first-year, for instance, the return should increase from 1.431 billion baht to 1.507 billion baht, he said. His company was ready to remove any structures that obstruct passengers or AoT staff.Mr Vichai denied the company had paid an extra two billion baht to win the contract to control commercial areas at Suvarnabhumi. The money was included in the contracted return package for AoT, but had been offered in advance to show the firm's readiness, he said.

King Power had attracted brand-name products to Suvarnabhumi in a bid to develop the airport as a shopping centre but uncertain policies were shaking the confidence of its partners, Mr Vichai said.

King Power deputy chairman Chulchit Bunyaketu said the past government rushed into the opening of Suvarnabhumi to the disbelief of many other parties.

It was plagued with problems and AoT had to solve them.