Bangkok's Don Muang Airport To Partially Reopen In January

[webfact]

Don Mueang Airport to partially reopen in January

BANGKOK, Nov 26 – A budget of Bt490 million approved by the Cabinet, will be used for restore the eastern runway of Don Mueang Airport, expected to reopen at the end of January for military aircraft, said Flying Officer Anirut Thanomkulbutra, president of Airports of Thailand (AoT).

AoT said the Bt1 billion restoration of the airport would be carried out in a two-phase plan.

The first phase, restoring the runway, includes several processes including cleaning, fixing runway and electricity system and pre-opening inspection.

Rehabilitation work will start on the eastern runway while the western runway and AoT headquarters will be restored with a budget of Bt445 million later. The Department of Civil Aviation Operations will certify safety standard before it reopens.

In the second phase, the terminal and cargo buildings will be restored.

Flying Officer Anirut said the airport will be fully operational after the floodwater is completely gone.

Currently, airport officials and workers are draining 300,000 cubic metres of water per day out of the airport to surrounding canals.

He said that if the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and government agencies related to water management could drain more water in the north of the capital to canals, AoT may consider pumping water out of the water-clogged areas in order to reopen the airport earlier.

The company cannot pump floodwater out of the airport now for fear of adding to nearby residents' suffering.

In addition, FO Anirut said additional measures against possible flooding in the future may be taken by applying measures used at Suvarnabhumi Airport to speed up restoring passenger confidence.

Because Suvarnabhumi Airport has an efficient flood-prevention system, he said, it is definitely spared the current flooding.

However, the number of passengers has dropped almost nine per cent due to the flood crisis.

It is expected the overall passenger numbers this year will be around 46 million, instead of the expected 47 million, he added. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-26

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Airport Flood Salvage to Cost over Bt1 Billion

A senior executive for the Airports of Thailand expects the flood-stricken Don Muang Airport to be fully operational by January next year.

Managing Director of the Airports of Thailand Anirut Thanombutr said the floodwater has swamped 3,000 rai of Don Muang Airport leaving its runways, taxiways, platforms, electricity systems, offices, and other basic structures unable for use.

Anirut said AOT has mapped out a two-phase plan for the rehabilitation of the Don Muang Airport from flood damage.

He said the first phase will utilize one billion baht of restoration funds to restore its eastern runway, taxiways, power systems and transmission line.

The move will support state agency aviation while handling the flood crisis.

The executive expected the airport to resume normal operation before the end of January next year when floods completely subside.

However, it must first pass a safety test from the Civil Aviation Department.

Anirut remarked that the second phase is the salvation of the airport's western runway and the revival of domestic passenger and cargo terminals.

The AOT has five commercial projects operating out of the various terminals via concessions.

He further said the AOT is considering adopting flood prevention measures implemented at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport to safeguard the Don Muang Airport against possible future inundation.

He also expressed confidence that the Suvarnabhumi Airport will not be effected by floods as preventive measures have been well designed.

However, he admitted that the number of passengers passing through the airport has dropped almost nine percent during the flood crisis.

This year, the number of passengers is expected to reach 46 million, one million less than previously predicted.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-26

[h90]

I guess on the 1 billion is again 500 Million corruption....

[Ricardo]

Since DMK only needs one runway operational nowadays, why not just restore one to full working-order, and save a large sum of money to be used on flood-repairs elsewhere, thus also saving on corrupt-payments & brown-envelopes ?

Oh wait, I think I just answered my own question, already.

[surangw]

Sink holes and weakened tarmac?