The Dirty Foreign And Thai Media

[sriracha john]

Tour cancelled due to media's dirty feet

Race on to ready new airport

Construction workers are racing against the clock to prepare Suvarnabhumi airport for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's test landing tomorrow. More than 200 local and foreign media yesterday accepted an invitation from Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) to witness preparations at the new airport for the visit by the prime minister, cabinet members and guests.

Reporters were supposed to be taken on a tour of the passenger terminal and concourse buildings, but that was cancelled yesterday.

The media received a briefing on the progress of airport construction at the office of New Bangkok International Airport Co (NBIA), an AoT subsidiary, and a brief coach trip past terminal buildings.

AoT public relations manager Rawewan Netrakavesna assured the press that the terminal complex and its facilities would be ready by tomorrow, but reporters were not allowed inside yesterday because the floors of the complex had been cleaned.

If reporters were allowed in, she explained, staff would not be able to again clean the floors in time for the prime minister's arrival.

Instead, reporters were given CDs containing pictures of the airport, including some inside angles of the terminal. Mrs Rawewan said the pictures were taken on Monday.

However, an NBIA source said all parties were racing to finish work on some areas of the project to be visited by the prime minister and his entourage.

The source said the work should be completed before Mr Thaksin's aircraft from Don Muang airport is scheduled to touch down at Suvarnabhumi at 9.19am.

Tomorrow is Sept 29, the original scheduled date for the airport opening. It was rescheduled to mid-2006.

Two planes belonging to Thai Airways International _ an Airbus A340-600 and Boeing 747-400 _ were test-landed at the new airport yesterday to make sure all preparations were set.

Mr Thaksin asked Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal to invite Suthep Thaugsuban, the Democrat secretary general and former transport minister, and Pradit Phataraprasit, the opposition member who was a former deputy transport minister, to join the event because both had been involved in the 155-billion-baht airport project.

But Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the two will not be part of the ceremony.

Inspecting the airport yesterday, Deputy Transport Minister Chaiyanan Charoensiri said that key facilities _ including runways, and navigation and communication systems _ were ready for the ``technical test flight'' tomorrow.

However, construction of the airport will take two more months to complete, he said. Its opening is expected next June.

NBIA vice-president Surajit Surapholchai told reporters the new airport was 94% complete and the passenger terminal was 97% complete and ready for the flight trial.

The prime minister and his delegation will undergo realistic check-in and check-out procedures and witness the operation of luggage conveyors and customs staff at the new airport.

Half of the elevated road leading to the airport terminal will be usable tomorrow. The prime minister plans to take it when he leaves the airport after the event.

Cargo, catering, maintenance, ground support and operation control buildings have been constructed but their communications systems, installation of specialised equipment and interior decoration is unfinished. Air traffic control facilities have reportedly been completed.

[Tywais]

Probably don't want the media to see the cracks in the floor.

[penzman]

Tour cancelled due to media's dirty feet

Race on to ready new airport

NBIA vice-president Surajit Surapholchai told reporters the new airport was 94% complete and the passenger terminal was 97% complete and ready for the flight trial.

Yeah, just like the Windows progress meter when installing or downloading. Time remaining is always longer than what is mentioned.

[sriracha john]

Tour cancelled due to media's dirty feet

Race on to ready new airport

NBIA vice-president Surajit Surapholchai told reporters the new airport was 94% complete and the passenger terminal was 97% complete and ready for the flight trial.

Yeah, just like the Windows progress meter when installing or downloading. Time remaining is always longer than what is mentioned.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Here's to hoping there aren't as many "crashes" at the new airport as Windows does...

[britmaveric]

Well obvious fearless leader doesnt want us to see smth!!!

[silk123]

Polititans must have made fortunes for themselves on that airport.

The floors are clean. It would be better if they were just honest.

The airplane is working perfectly. Now i know not to believe.