One Vs Two Airports

[sabaijai]

EDITORIAL Indulging in a flight of fancy

Published: 17/03/2009 at 12:00 AM

Bangkok Post

A political battle has been joined over whether Bangkok should become a one-airport capital. The noisy battle over Bangkok's airports seems ultimately futile. The proponents of a one-airport plan have some good points. But the idea to close Don Mueang to all regular airline service fails to answer a basic question: How will Suvarnabhumi, already operating near capacity, handle the expected increase in passengers? Until there are solid plans for airport expansion, it is inevitable that a second airport will have to be used.

It must be clear that a two-airport policy is not the best solution, but only the least bad. As Suvarnabhumi once again nears its passenger capacity of 45 million passengers per year, another facility will have to take the excess. It is a shame that neither airport authorities nor successive governments over the past eight years have dealt with the situation.

Here is the reality. Suvarnabhumi Airport opened officially on Sept 28, 2006. Prior to that, the then-Thaksin administration rushed to construct and to open the facility. Multiple plans were written to assure that the official opening of Suvarnabhumi was merely a milestone, and not a final act. The cabinet actually approved plans to continue the construction of the airport at the old Nong Ngu Hao area. Enough land was obtained to double the number of runways from two to four, and to triple the number of passenger terminals.

It is impossible to say what would have happened had the Thaksin regime remained in power. In the event, the military coup ousted the government and upset all planning for the airport. Military cronies were stuck in various agencies including Airports of Thailand, which operates Suvarnabhumi. When coup commander Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin attempted to justify his putsch, he listed corruption in the construction of Suvarnabhumi. While no graft convictions have been recorded, the fog of sleaze over the airport has effectively grounded all expansion plans.

There is a common perception of a fishy smell over Don Mueang as well.

The well-placed military commanders of the old airport allegedly managed to convince coup authorities to revive the goose that lays the golden eggs for some military units. Foreign airlines refused to relocate back to Don Mueang, but a highly reluctant Thai Airways International agreed to stage some domestic flights there. Two budget airlines still feel Don Mueang is more convenient and cheaper.

It is an ill wind that blows no good fortune, and that includes the combination of the worldwide economic crisis and last year's ill-advised occupation of the two Bangkok airports by the People's Alliance for Democracy. The subsequent drop in foreign visitors kept Suvarnabhumi from reaching its capacity in the current tourist season.

Thus, there is a short period for the government and airport regulators to agree on how to deal with the more than 45 million passengers who will likely be arriving in Thailand by next year.

The good news is that Don Mueang remains in good condition. The government, however, still seems reluctant when it comes to Suvarnabhumi expansion. Absent real political leadership, Suvarnabhumi is stagnating.

The only solution is to utilise Don Mueang and, perhaps, U-tapao airports for irregular flights such as charters, budget airlines and training. To paraphrase the platitude about democracy, using two airports is the worst solution except for all the others.