Don Muang Aiport Renovation in Progress

The Transport Ministry is trying to finish laying a sandbag barrier at Don Muang Airport by today in order to start draining floodwater from the runway.

The repairs of the airport are expected to take around 60 days with the estimated cost of three billion baht.

The Transport Ministry has started salvaging Don Muang Airport. Last night, Transport Minister Sukampol Suwannathat oversaw the laying of a Big Bag flood levee on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in front of the airport.

Workers have been constructing the flood barrier since Monday with support from the military.

The wall to be built from more than 1,000 giant sandbags will prevent more floodwater from entering the airport grounds and is expected to complete by today.

Once the floodwater has receded to about 70 to 80 centimeters lower than the flood wall, authorities will start draining the water from the airport.

It is estimated that the drainage of between 16 to 18 million cubic meters of water from the airport's 5,000-rai grounds will take 18 days.

Afterwards, it will take another 60 days to repair the airport's facilities, runway and electrical system to ensure that they are up to the international standards.

The airport will reopen once it is certified by the Civil Aviation Department and the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand.

The transport minister said that the eastern part of the airport, an area of about 2,000 rai, will be salvaged first because it is under the air force's control and is necessary for launching flood relief flights.

It could also accommodate commercial flights. He expected that it will cost around three billion baht to salvage the airport.

Currently, the Don Muang Airport accommodates only about 20 commercial flights per day and is operating at a loss.

The government has been urged to utilize the once largest airport in Thailand more than what it has.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-17

Don Muang Airport - November 5

PICTURES

Follow this link: http://www.thaiarmedforce.com/taf-special/396-tafspecial54.html

I am afraid this will mean more water for Don Muang residents, as well as Vipawadee rd.

Why? Does this not pose the ideal opportunity to finally decommission Don Muang and move everything to Suvarnabumi.

Why? Does this not pose the ideal opportunity to finally decommission Don Muang and move everything to Suvarnabumi.

What? With 3 billion baht being "spent", it's a no brainer.

Don Muang Airport - November 5

PICTURES

Follow this link: http://www.thaiarmed...fspecial54.html

Amazing photo's !!

You can imagine it.... OK guy's let's start,start what? getting rid of this lot!! "Right ok"... errrr Boss "how long this gotta take"? .Errr i dun know...just start!! But i did here there's a big party tonight... One of the top guns... Yeah he is "60" today.. Where do these numbers come from? Seriously looking at those amazing photo's HOW!! just HOW?? can they call 60 Days + 60 days?? Wow !!!good luck sweeping boys

Edited November 17, 201114 yr by kohphangan

Why? Does this not pose the ideal opportunity to finally decommission Don Muang and move everything to Suvarnabumi.

Its useful to have two big airports. Paris has 3 airports, London 3 plus stansted and luton on the edge and others . New York has 3. That list goes on. Why does a mega city like Bangkok only need one airport? If its already built like DMK keep it.

The idea to shut down Don Muang was mooted several times in the past, but it was always shot down by the air force which stands to lose a lot of revenue as a result.

Why? Does this not pose the ideal opportunity to finally decommission Don Muang and move everything to Suvarnabumi.

What? With 3 billion baht being "spent", it's a no brainer.

Only half will be spent ????

It is needed because should anything happen to Swampy--we are really in the Shizen, This airport is on more solid ground than swampy,......... I would suggest relocate the air force if you are spending money, and use their facilities, why are they here-because they always have been???---as always. re locate the force to Ubon-Korat-and better still to Sattahip, having a joint naval/air force. Don M, is a hell of a cargo/ service of aircraft/ postal/express and a fantastic strategically placed domestic HUB.

Makes no economic sense and is a tremendous inconvenience for anyone transferring from int'l to domestic flights. Only reason is the AF, as previously stated.

Am waiting for someone to suggest the airport is

being restored to benefit the arrival of one person.

Why? Does this not pose the ideal opportunity to finally decommission Don Muang and move everything to Suvarnabumi.

Absolutely, the cash would be better-spent on a many-times-promised and long-overdue LCC-terminal at Swampy, but perhaps Ms Yingluck has power-groups to satisfy, or the military like their golf-course ?

Unfortuntately a liitle BS, given the runway is under 8ft of water.

Another Thai government good news broadcast.

I worked there and have seen it first hand.

Good news is the order of the day, not the truth!

Craighj

Makes no economic sense and is a tremendous inconvenience for anyone transferring from int'l to domestic flights. Only reason is the AF, as previously stated.

BKK is a single terminal airport and its easy to connect to domestics flights, hardly a "tremendous inconvience". Nok Air fly from DMK with a few flights and Orient Thai have a few flights and barely qualify as an "airline". Theres almost no need to fly from DMK unless its north Bangkok location is more convienent.

The idea to shut down Don Muang was mooted several times in the past, but it was always shot down by the air force which stands to lose a lot of revenue as a result.

The Air Force has to be there or a new base built. Why force the low cost carriers to pay BKK prices?

Estimated 3 billion Baht.

Interesting, given that AoT quoted 1 billion

http://www.thailandnews.co/2011/11/bt1-billion-needed-to-salvage-inundated-don-mueang-airport-aot/

Another post quoted Hillary as promising 10 million $ in aid "mostly for Don Muang"