Thai Airways Relocates Back To Suvarnabhumi Airport

[george]

THAI departs Don Mueang

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International will concentrate its flight services at Suvarnabhumi airport from March 29 to cut costs.

Acting THAI president Narongsak Sangapong yesterday said the return of remaining services from Don Mueang airport to Suvarnabhumi would coincide with the start of the summer flight schedule and should help the airline cut costs, especially on personnel and equipment.

The move complies with the government's single airport policy.

"THAI is ready to move flights back after the end of the winter flight schedule," Mr Narongsak said. "All flights will take off and land at Suvarnabhumi airport. The main reason is to save on management costs and reduce operational duplication from managing activities at both airports at the same time."

Mr Narongsak said the return to Suvarnabhumi would benefit THAI over the longer term.

Serirat Prasutanond, Suvarnabhumi airport director and acting president of Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT), yesterday confirmed the airport was ready to welcome the relocation of flights from Don Mueang.Airport authorities would not need to carry out any special preparations because the move involved the transport of equipment typical of an airline business, he said.

After the relocation of the THAI flights, Mr Serirat said the AoT would work out a clear plan to raise income from the use of Don Mueang. Many chartered and private flights were interested in using the airport, he said.

Nok Air chief executive officer Patee Sarasin said he accepted the single airport policy but his airline needed time to prepare to relocate to Suvarnabhumi.

The preparation could take at least a year or until the second phase expansion of Suvarnabhumi is completed, he said.

One-Two-Go Airlines chairman Udom Tantiprasongchai said if his airline had a choice it would not move to Suvarnabhumi. He questioned whether Suvarnabhumi had sufficient space to accommodate his airline. He also complained that frequent changes in top-level policies had adversely affected airlines.

The Surayud Chulanont administration promoted a dual airport policy which revived flight operations at Don Mueang. The airport had been closed to scheduled flights with the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport in September 2006.

-- Bangkok Post 2009-01-22

[khunandy]

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International will concentrate its flight services at Suvarnabhumi airport from March 29 to cut costs.

Acting THAI president Narongsak Sangapong yesterday said the return of remaining services from Don Mueang airport to Suvarnabhumi would coincide with the start of the summer flight schedule and should help the airline cut costs, especially on personnel and equipment.

The move complies with the government's single airport policy.

I hope this is true, it has been a big hassle for me and my monthly International / Domestic flight connections.

[Ricardo]

"THAI is ready to move flights back after the end of the winter flight schedule," Mr Narongsak said. "All flights will take off and land at Suvarnabhumi airport. The main reason is to save on management costs and reduce operational duplication from managing activities at both airports at the same time."

Mr Narongsak said the return to Suvarnabhumi would benefit THAI over the longer term.

I have to agree that this should benefit those passengers, forget about the airline, who have had the considerable inconvenience of changing airports in recent times.

But I seem to recall, when they originally split their operations, wasn't it also supposed to be cheaper for Thai, to operate some flights out of the old airport ? But now it turns out to have been more expensive !

[bubba]

From a different perspective - from those of us who actually live in Bangkok, particularly on the north side of things - I'm sorry to see Thai leave DMK. Not only is Don Muang a lot closer to my home and office, it is hugely faster and easier to get in and out of. Parking is close, and on arrival, the elapsed time from walking out the aircraft door to closing my car door never takes more than 5-10 minutes. If you get stuck at the far end of the Suvarnabhumi domestic terminal, you're looking at a walk of approximately 600 metres (and without a moving walkway) just to get into the arrivals hall. That has to be one of the longest walks I have ever experienced at any airport anywhere.

Having an international flight at Suvarnabhumi connecting to a domestic flight at Don Muang is indeed not very easy or efficient. But for resident passengers who want quick and easy domestic flights, I for one hope Don Muang is left to operate as an alternative. Since Nok Air and One2Go are still operating from Don Muang, they will be getting my domestic business now.

[torrenova]

Sort of reminds me of Heathrow and Gatwick. Heathrow being largely scheduled airlines and Gatwick being the charter hub with some scheduled operations. All the cheap stuff out in the sticks at Stansted and Luton.

The only regular domestic I take is Bangkok to Buriram and return which goes to swampy. I don't often connect to an international flight or following domestic one but it would piss me off if I had to change airports to do so.

I say close it but swampy is too full sometimes (not now I know) and cannot handle more people. Till they expand it, keep the status quo.

[tartempion]

I might consider flying Thai domestically, indeed they have better connection times with my international travel (which never will be on Thai).

Anyway, Swampy was set up to be the only Bangkok airport, it was a mistake to re-open Don Mueang and crappy arguments were used to do so

[THAILIBAN]

I might consider flying Thai domestically, indeed they have better connection times with my international travel (which never will be on Thai).

Anyway, Swampy was set up to be the only Bangkok airport, it was a mistake to re-open Don Mueang and crappy arguments were used to do so

it was NOT a mistake in my opinion, but they should have declared it a low-cost-airport with lower charges for airlines as well as passengers, and then not only NOK and 12go, but AIR ASIA with their domestic and international flights as well would have been happy to move there. I still think this would be the smartest option, as the airport itself will not be shut down entirely but can still be used for charter or military flights or private business aircraft

[NanLaew]

I might consider flying Thai domestically, indeed they have better connection times with my international travel (which never will be on Thai).

Anyway, Swampy was set up to be the only Bangkok airport, it was a mistake to re-open Don Mueang and crappy arguments were used to do so

it was NOT a mistake in my opinion, but they should have declared it a low-cost-airport with lower charges for airlines as well as passengers, and then not only NOK and 12go, but AIR ASIA with their domestic and international flights as well would have been happy to move there. I still think this would be the smartest option, as the airport itself will not be shut down entirely but can still be used for charter or military flights or private business aircraft

The only mistake was to use the new airport as an anti- you-know-who weapon and browbeat the state and Thai-owned carriers to move their operations there while the small problems with ramps and taxiways were resolved. AirAsia, because they are not Thai-owned were able to resist this pressure and thankfully, they were able to provide a decent alternative for domestic connections without the drive to the old airport. Don Muang will have it's uses, maybe handling the low-cost, high safety risk operators, 'back-pack' travelers and charter flights but I for one am very glad that TG is going to be under one roof again. The 600 meter walk from the domestic gates beats the 600 meter walk + 1 hour drive for those currently making international connections IMHO.

[wrecker]

It never made any sense to fly from two airports, but how long before it takes before the likes of Sondhi, conclude again that their army friends are losing out on business as owners of Don Muang? The bottom line here that Thaksin was right and the military junta wrong. Thai seem to be a pawn in a game. I would advise anyone with shares in Thai airways to immediately sell the shares as the government still sees Thai airways as theirs.

[mistakurtz]

I've flown into and out of both airports often. They both have their advantages. It will serve AOT to close DM perhaps, and maybe TG. But users and fliers and consumers will lose out. DM is convenient. This may all change when the skytrain connection is complete to BKK.

[bubba]

It never made any sense to fly from two airports, but how long before it takes before the likes of Sondhi, conclude again that their army friends are losing out on business as owners of Don Muang? The bottom line here that Thaksin was right and the military junta wrong. Thai seem to be a pawn in a game. I would advise anyone with shares in Thai airways to immediately sell the shares as the government still sees Thai airways as theirs.

There are many large cities in the world that successfully operate two, three or even more airports for the same city. And I don't think that many of them have some sort of military conspiracy leading to the decision to operate them.

Cities with more than one airport

[Pseacraft]

I will be so happy when this happens! I understand for many that DM was a benefit but it really crimped my schedule significantly as a monthly international/domestic traveler. With the pending move that means I can take the early morning flight to Udorn and the Late flight back to BKK. Will make the wife and kids very happy. :-) Now if only thai would go back to three flights per day on that route. :-) It is sad to see 1, 2, Go operating again but that is another topic.

Eric

[bubba]

I will be so happy when this happens! I understand for many that DM was a benefit but it really crimped my schedule significantly as a monthly international/domestic traveler. With the pending move that means I can take the early morning flight to Udorn and the Late flight back to BKK. Will make the wife and kids very happy. :-) Now if only thai would go back to three flights per day on that route. :-) It is sad to see 1, 2, Go operating again but that is another topic.

Eric

One-Two-Go are operating again. And thankfully out of Don Muang rather than Suvarnabhumi, thus saving many of us who live here perhaps two hours departing and arriving as compared to taking Thai or AirAsia out of Suvarnabhumi.

Closing Don Muang will not only close a very convenient and time-saving option for residents, but forcing the budget carriers such as Nok and One-Two-Go to Suvarnabhumi will only increase congestion. The higher operating costs there will likely cause less competitive fares and make it more difficult for the budget carriers to survive. If carriers like Nok and One-Two-Go cease to operate, I wonder what the effect will be on Thai's new lower domestic fares.

Long live Don Muang!