Airport 'should Be Closed' For Repairs

[sjaak327]

Airport 'should be closed' for repairs

(BangkokPost.com)

Suvarnabhumi airport should be temporarily closed in order to undergo the huge repairs necessary to fix runways and taxiways, said a high-ranking official Thursday.

"If we want to fix cracks on the runways, we have no choice but to close down Suvarnabhumi because this is involved with passengers' safety," said Bannawit Kengrien, chairman of a special committee for Suvarnabhumi issues, after visiting the new airport.

"The closing period should be around six to ten months," Adm Bannawit said. "Then, we can reopen the airport."

For the expense which may occur from the move back to the Don Muang airport, he said, Airports of Thailand should not be responsible. The situation was not predicted earlier.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen dismissed the opposition by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to the government's decision to have two international airports in Bangkok.

He said IATA had the right to express an opinion, but he insisted that having the two airports in operation was crucial.

Adm Theera said the ministry would discuss with airline officials which airlines would be willing to move back to Don Muand airport. But this, he said, should be decided based on benefits of both airlines and the country.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=116656

Made me laugh especially the fact that the situation was not predicted earlier

[Nignoy]

Airport 'should be closed' for repairs

(BangkokPost.com)

Suvarnabhumi airport should be temporarily closed in order to undergo the huge repairs necessary to fix runways and taxiways, said a high-ranking official Thursday.

"If we want to fix cracks on the runways, we have no choice but to close down Suvarnabhumi because this is involved with passengers' safety," said Bannawit Kengrien, chairman of a special committee for Suvarnabhumi issues, after visiting the new airport.

"The closing period should be around six to ten months," Adm Bannawit said. "Then, we can reopen the airport."

For the expense which may occur from the move back to the Don Muang airport, he said, Airports of Thailand should not be responsible. The situation was not predicted earlier.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen dismissed the opposition by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to the government's decision to have two international airports in Bangkok.

He said IATA had the right to express an opinion, but he insisted that having the two airports in operation was crucial.

Adm Theera said the ministry would discuss with airline officials which airlines would be willing to move back to Don Muand airport. But this, he said, should be decided based on benefits of both airlines and the country.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=116656

Made me laugh especially the fact that the situation was not predicted earlier

Why not get the OP crown Wrinklies out of retirement!! the puyai baans daughter sent us these two photo,s of the airfield ,built by the R E.s in 1964, at Leong Nok Tha it would make a good carpark Nignoy

[kalaminsa]

[endure]

There was a piece on a BBC national radio consumer programme today asking whether the new airport was safe.

[cdnvic]

Made me laugh especially the fact that the situation was not predicted earlier

It was, but it was drowned out by all the posturing, and grandoise claims.

[Nikkijah]

My friend in London was telling me how it was on the news described as a national embarrassment - I'm not sure that the people responsible would admit to that

[stoneman]

Airport 'should be closed' for repairs

"If we want to fix cracks on the runways, we have no choice but to close down Suvarnabhumi because this is involved with passengers' safety," said Bannawit Kengrien, chairman of a special committee for Suvarnabhumi issues, after visiting the new airport.

"The closing period should be around six to ten months," Adm Bannawit said. "Then, we can reopen the airport."

It seems like we have gone from moving domestic flights to DM to moving domestic flights and some international flights to DM to closing the new airport and moving everything to DM...

Is it possible that the investigators are finding new faults that are more concerning.. Maybe they are concerned about what the runways are going to do when we start the rainy season and all that water starts seeping down into the sand under the runway...

Just my opinion, but if they close the new airport, it could be 2 years before it reopens and maybe even longer.

[Jockstar]

For the expense which may occur from the move back to the Don Muang airport, he said, Airports of Thailand should not be responsible. The situation was not predicted earlier.

What a ###### up. It was the former leaders fault for rushing the airport to open to save face.

[slimdog]

Closure talk riles Saprang

Airports of Thailand (AoT) board chairman Saprang Kalayanamitr was upset yesterday following public comments by the head of a committee investigating problems at Suvarnabhumi airport. Bannawit Kengrian, who chairs the committee picked by the National Legislative Assembly, said he would make proposals to yesterday's AoT meeting.

also

Sources at the ministry said they were not happy at seeing Adm Bannawit make remarks about the future of Suvarnabhumi which differed from the line of the ministry and AoT.

source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/09Feb2007_news14.php

I think it is time Photo's were published....

[slimdog]

New airport closure unnecessary, says senior official

BANGKOK, Feb 9 (TNA) -- Only a small portion of Suvarnabhumi airport will be closed for repairs and maintenance, leaving most areas operable as normal, said Narongchai Thanadchangsaeng, deputy director of the airport.

Mr. Narongchai's comment followed the suggestion by Admiral Bannawit Kengrian, head of the National Legislative Assembly's committee investigating Suvarnabhumi airport problems, that the airport be closed temporarily for repairs following reports of runway and taxiway cracks.

The committee chairman said only about five or six per cent of the entire three-million-square-metre space of the airport will be closed for repairs while all other areas will open as normal.

Such partial repairs are commonplace at other international airports worldwide, the deputy Suvarnabhumi airport director commented.

Workers employed to repair a portion of the airport will be kept removed from the passenger terminals while airport security measures will be thoroughly enforced to assure safety for passengers as repair and maintenance work proceeds, Mr. Narongchai said.

Meanwhile, an Airport of Thailand's committee headed by Tortrakul Yommanak and currently investigating the runway cracks is scheduled to give a press conference on progress in the probe on Monday (February 12). (TNA)-E008

source: http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=27839