Bangkok‘s Don Muang To Become Second-tier Airport

[george]

Bangkok‘s Don Muang to become second-tier airport

BANGKOK: -- The decades-old Bangkok International Airport will serve as a secondary airport to accommodate no-frill airlines, chartered flights and private jets once the capital's new international gateway opens for business next year, according to a senior government official.

The new Suvarnabhumi International Airport is expected to begin commercial operations in June, 2006.

Vice Transport Minister Mahidol Chantrangkurn made the announcement after chairing a meeting of a consultative committee on the future of the aging airport, better known as Don Muang. He said the airport would continue to serve the fast-growing budget airline sector, which recorded a total of five million passengers this year.

Private jets and light aircraft would also be allowed to use the domestic passenger terminal temporarily to relieve air congestion at the new airport.

Mr. Mahidol said that Don Muang Airport’s cargo terminal 1-4 would house a maintenance centre for both the Royal Thai Air Force and private air services. Terminal 2 would be available for private commercial leasing, but only on a temporary basis as some services may have to be transferred from Suvarnabhumi if the airport became too overcrowded.

The committee would finalise details of the plan within two weeks before reporting to the Transport Minister.

Don Muang Airport currently costs one billion baht a year to run. Acting president of operator Airports of Thailand Bancha Pattanaporn expressed confidence that revenue from the airport's new business activities would help finance its future operating and maintenance costs

--TNA 2005-11-08

[lomatopo]

"Bangkok‘s Don Muang to become second-tier airport"

Some would contend that it already has this distinction.

I'm still interested in the IATA codes. I've got to believe Suvarnabhumi will inherit "BKK", a la HKG, KUL and DEN (although the 'old' HKG and DEN did not continue to operate), and that Don Muang will get an new code.

[Guest endure]

Bangkok‘s Don Muang to become second-tier airport 

BANGKOK: -- The decades-old Bangkok International Airport will serve as a secondary airport to accommodate no-frill airlines, chartered flights and private jets once the capital's new international  gateway opens for business next year, according to a senior government official.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Won't that deprive them of a lot of business? A lot of international arrivals into Thailand will pay the extra for a 'full-fare' internal flight rather than hack all the way to Don Muang to save a few baht.

[Rinrada]

Whats the betting that TG domestics will be based at Suwanna,while as you suggest uninspired international arrivals clutching their Air 50 pence discounted flights to Ubon in the Boondocks of Nowhere will have to resort to the new super high speed Tuk Tuk interconnection service to Don M. Time to visit a gold shop...perchance...or bring back some biplanes....

[sabaijai]

Bangkok‘s Don Muang to become second-tier airport 

BANGKOK: -- The decades-old Bangkok International Airport will serve as a secondary airport to accommodate no-frill airlines, chartered flights and private jets once the capital's new international  gateway opens for business next year, according to a senior government official.

Won't that deprive them of a lot of business? A lot of international arrivals into Thailand will pay the extra for a 'full-fare' internal flight rather than hack all the way to Don Muang to save a few baht.

Yes, this move almost seems designed for THAI to gain advantage over the cheaper airlines.

[Maejo Man]

Terminal 2 would be available for private commercial leasing, but only on a temporary basis as some services may have to be transferred from Suvarnabhumi if the airport became too overcrowded.

I was under the impression that the new airport would have the capacity Now they are talking about it becoming "overcrowded"

[Darkling]

1 billion baht a year to run Don Muang. So they really could cut the 500 baht airport tax to 20 baht

[Xeque]

Interesting that they mention 'light aircraft'. If most of the international services, ATC etc transfer to the new airport the, I presume, the cost of running the airport will drop considerably. Will they keep two runways or redesign the golf course?

Does it mean that I can fly myself from (say) Pattaya Airpark direct into Don Muang rather than hack it on the bus to Ekamai?

[mijan24]

Bangkok‘s Don Muang to become second-tier airport 

Yes, this move almost seems designed for THAI to gain advantage over the cheaper airlines.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

sabaijai - how dare you think such thoughts - Thai Airlines could not beat the "no frills" in open competition and recently announced they would be increasing fares and let the market forces play their role.

It looks as if "market forces" are getting a helping hand!!

[taxexile]

but only on a temporary basis as some services may have to be transferred from Suvarnabhumi if the airport became too overcrowded.

like maejo man , that was my reaction when reading this.

its not even open yet and they are talking about overcapacity.

havent they designed in some slack to cope with extra demand in the worlds largest airport.

what an amazing statement to make. surely he cant have meant it.

[cclub75]

You made a point : the new airport was designed to follow a huge increase in air traffic... And now they speak about "overcrowed".... Once again, their explanations are surrealistics...

It's just another proof of thai un-planning spirit. The truth is : they don't know what to do with Don Muang... So mai pen rai, we keep it. And we will see in 5 years...

[Foggy Bottom]

Bangkok‘s Don Muang to become second-tier airport 

Private jets and light aircraft would also be allowed to use the domestic passenger terminal temporarily to relieve air congestion at the new airport.

Terminal 2 would be available for private commercial leasing, but only on a temporary basis  as some services may have to be transferred from Suvarnabhumi if the airport became too overcrowded.

--TNA 2005-11-08

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought Souvannabhumi was supposed to solve all Thailand's international Air problems for the next 25-30 years?

I smell the beginnings of excuse laying for some severe skimming and misappropriations that will cause the airport to run under the designed capacity

Can't beat a good corruption scandal huh?

.

Edited November 8, 2005 by Gaz Chiangmai

[wimster]

Agree....but based on 10 mill. international passengers paying the THB 500 I get to 5 billion. So 100 THB is reasonable.

Somebody is making US$ 80,000,000...

1 billion baht a year to run Don Muang. So they really could cut the 500 baht airport tax to 20 baht 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[sanook1]

Whats the betting that TG domestics will be based at Suwanna,while as you suggest uninspired international arrivals clutching their Air 50 pence discounted flights to Ubon in the Boondocks of Nowhere will have to resort to the new super high speed Tuk Tuk interconnection service to Don M.  Time to visit a gold shop...perchance...or  bring back some biplanes....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

come on whats wrong with this buget airlines always land in second teir locations, look at stansted in london, doesnt mean that the bujet airlines do a hard trade, ryan air is doing ever so well.

I think its a great idea to keep the old airport as an airport and not have it converted into government offices. The new one is big enough to operate well within capacity for years!!

Its all good

[taxexile]

cause the airport to run under the designed capacity

with a high speed gravy train linking suvannaphum with don meuang

[sanook1]

You made a point : the new airport was designed to follow a huge increase in air traffic... And now they speak about "overcrowed".... Once again, their explanations are surrealistics...

It's just another proof of thai un-planning spirit. The truth is : they don't know what to do with Don Muang... So mai pen rai, we keep it. And we will see in 5 years...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well the rest obviously goes towards paying the countries taxes that most of the population avoid. Have you seen this model in Indonesia?? Its kind of a justified formula considering the logic

[ThaiPauly]

I just hope the Air Traffic Controllers have not been on the Beeer Chang the night before any of our flights come in.

can ANYONE see a Thai person being able to keep their mind on two things at the same time, even without the Chang?

I SHUDDER!!!!

[sanook1]

You made a point : the new airport was designed to follow a huge increase in air traffic... And now they speak about "overcrowed".... Once again, their explanations are surrealistics...

It's just another proof of thai un-planning spirit. The truth is : they don't know what to do with Don Muang... So mai pen rai, we keep it. And we will see in 5 years...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well the rest obviously goes towards paying the countries taxes that most of the population avoid. Have you seen this model in Indonesia?? Its kind of a justified formula considering the logic

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

in indo its 4/5000 baht

[astral]

what an amazing statement to make. surely he cant have meant it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Open mouth,

insert foot,

engage brain later if available.

[cwilliam]

Now we have to learn how not to be cheated by the cabbies at the new airport.Here we go again.

[RDN]

Now we have to learn how not to be cheated by the cabbies at the new airport.Here we go again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I never got cheated by the cabbies. 50 baht + meter fare + tollway fees. Simple.

[udon]

With the loss of revenue from the intl airlines, the maths don't add up and never will.

So, what's new..... TIT.

[tomallison]

Now we have to learn how not to be cheated by the cabbies at the new airport.Here we go again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I never got cheated by the cabbies. 50 baht + meter fare + tollway fees. Simple.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Walk up to departures and reduce that charge by 50 baht. Demands for extra, non-meter charges seem to be on the decrease?

[mijan24]

I just hope the Air Traffic Controllers have not been on the Beeer Chang the night before any of our flights come in.

can ANYONE see a Thai person being able to keep their mind on two things at the same time, even without the Chang?

I SHUDDER!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Off topic but humour me:

Reminds me of Independence in PNG:

Expats became 2nd officers on Air Nugini flights

Question: How does the 1st officer know when to take off?

Ans: Simple - Take-off commences, take off - speeding along runway speed builds, builds, builds end of runway looms, looms, looms, looms, looms - 1st officer watching face of 2nd officer screams shiite - 2nd officer pulls back on controls and off into the wide blue yonder they go.

Another successful take-off for Air Nugini another relax-a-tab for the Expat

[Welsh John]

Bangkok‘s Don Muang to become second-tier airport 

Private jets and light aircraft would also be allowed to use the domestic passenger terminal temporarily to relieve air congestion at the new airport.

Terminal 2 would be available for private commercial leasing, but only on a temporary basis  as some services may have to be transferred from Suvarnabhumi if the airport became too overcrowded.

--TNA 2005-11-08

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought Souvannabhumi was supposed to solve all Thailand's international Air problems for the next 25-30 years?

I smell the beginnings of excuse laying for some severe skimming and misappropriations that will cause the airport to run under the designed capacity

Can't beat a good corruption scandal huh?

.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Its possible the Prime Ministers wife may be interested in purchasing Don Muang to add to all the other projects she has ongoing in BKK. This of course would have nothing to do with the Prime Minister as he is more interested in looking after the country and has no influence on his good wife's business dealings.

[Ricardo]

I had thought that part of the justification for the brand-new high-tech airport, would be that the higher costs of the larger airport, might be partly-offset by the elimination of the cost of running the old less-efficient one.

Now they seem to plan to keep the old one running too.

I sure hope that they got their sums right

[redwood13]

but only on a temporary basis as some services may have to be transferred from Suvarnabhumi if the airport became too overcrowded.

like maejo man , that was my reaction when reading this.

its not even open yet and they are talking about overcapacity.

havent they designed in some slack to cope with extra demand in the worlds largest airport.

what an amazing statement to make. surely he cant have meant it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As I understand it, the completion date of the new airport is only the completion date of the first phase which will allow a capacity not so much greater than that of Don Muang. Additional phases, which as I recall were given a completion date of 2010, would add greatly to the capacity. If that is the case, then it's entirely possible for Suwanna to become "overcrowded" before additional phases are completed.

-redwood

[xbusman]

Read a good article in an Australian paper that did a thorough review of our saga. Keeping in mind that this project is 45 years old, since conception the world has continued to move along while our new airport struggled getting off the ground.

Airport capacity is measured in ramps. Ramps are restricted by runways. A single runway requires minimum spacing between planes allowing only so many take offs and landings per hour. The article I refer to discussed the new airport having 51 gates while Don Muang has 54. End analysis is that the new airport will represent a decrease in capacity over the current status of Don Muang.

Forget the Rai and noodle cart counts, count the gates and runways to determine capacity. I would guess that if they really plan on increasing capacity they will need to keep both airports running at darn near full capacity.

[cutter007]

As I understand it, the completion date of the new airport is only the completion date of the first phase which will allow a capacity not so much greater than that of Don Muang.  Additional phases, which as I recall were given a completion date of 2010, would add greatly to the capacity.  If that is the case, then it's entirely possible for Suwanna to become "overcrowded" before additional phases are completed.

-redwood

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is partially correct, the first phase will have a much greater capacity than Don Muang.

A project manager for one of the contractor companies told me it was almost double, but I can't remember exactly.

That capacity figure is in plane capacity.

But there are future stages that are planned to expand capacity.

This VP of Transportation plays PlayStation with the same minister that thought up the brilliant no alcohol sales between 2 - 5 pm.

Why there is so much confusion is because westerners in this forum don't think like VP ministers.

You think of things like costs, capacities, and viable alternatives.

The ministers think in terms of neat and cool.

Sample of ministry of transportation meeting, "Hey what are we going to do with the old airport, silence.......hey lets just keep it open because wouldn't it be really cool if Bangkok had two airports.......yeah dude, that would make us look really big.

Later on when it comes to implementing it, someone like Thaksin, who does have his short comings, but actually knows what a income statement and balance sheet are, will veto the idea, as it isn't cost effective enough for the added wow effect.

The ministers will be a little bit upset at the cancelation of the idea, but will soon

shrug it off as PlayStation 3 has recently come out, and they must attend to that immediately.

All the major airlines, and budget lines will fly out of the new airport, mark my words, the old airport might stay open, but not to commercial passenger planes.

Edited November 9, 2005 by cutter007

[xbusman]

Now thats funny and a darn good read Cutter007!

Thanks