Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport To Resume Operation In Early March

[webfact]

Thailand's Don Mueang airport to resume operation in early March

BANGKOK, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's second biggest airport, Don Mueang, will reopen for commercial flights on March 6, Airports of Thailand (AOT) President Anirut Thanomkulbut said on Monday, English website Bangkok Post reported.

The airport was closed late last October when flood water encroached into its building and runways and services of some budget airlines moved to Suvarnabhumi International airport.

Nok Air, a low-cost airline, has confirmed the resumption of its full operations at Don Mueang airport while Orient Thai, another low-cost airline, has yet to make a decision whether to return, Anirut added.

However, only the eastern runway will be opened for services, said the AOT president.

In April, Suvarnabhumi airport will repair the eastern runway, covering an area of 1,620 square meters, with a budget of about 150 million baht (4.8 million U.S. dollars); the routine major repair after five years in use.

The repair will be completed in 60 days and will not affect normal services of the airport, Anirut said.

Source: http://news.xinhuane...c_131382718.htm

-- xinhuanet.com 2012-01-30

[Soboringtochooseaname]

Happy to avoid Air asia and Suvarnabhumi again thanks to Nok air at DON MUANG !

[tomallison]

Happy to avoid Air asia and Suvarnabhumi again thanks to Nok air at DON MUANG !

Fully agree.

[Garry]

I've always liked Don Mueang. I wonder if The Men in Black aren't still there lol

[3SoiDogNight]

Good news. Can't wait for it to re-open.

How about the car rental places such as Budget and Avis?

[thaicbr]

just in time for it to flood again.................................

[ginjag]

Good for Nok Air,  Smack into BKK,  direct rail-bus-and hotels by the dozen,  Happy airport, fond memories, and were back in business. chok dee  DM.

[anterian]

I bought my house because it was near Don Muang, then they built a new crap airport miles away.

[rockyysdt]

Happy to avoid Air asia and Suvarnabhumi again thanks to Nok air at DON MUANG !

What's wrong with AirAsia?

[rotary]

About as many things wrong with Air Asia as there are with old Swampy the airport

[lannarebirth]

You mean it hasn't resumed operations already? What a scam! No one i know would travel on either Air Asia or One Two Go. Too bad most other airlines don't go to Don Mueang, which i happen to like more that Suwannapoom.

[NanLaew]

Happy to avoid Air asia and Suvarnabhumi again thanks to Nok air at DON MUANG !

Happy to avoid Air asia and Suvarnabhumi again thanks to Nok air at DON MUANG !

Fully agree.

Umm.... as far as I know Nok Air are also using Suvarnabhumi. Why did you change to AirAsia?

[Qauvorka]

About as many things wrong with Air Asia as there are with old Swampy the airport

"Old Swampy" I hope your refering to Don Meung. I remember a Qantas plane over shooting a runway there (for whatever reason) and they couldn't just tow it out, the biggest problem with recovery was that it sank into the mud up to it's engines.

[hellodolly]

About as many things wrong with Air Asia as there are with old Swampy the airport

"Old Swampy" I hope your refering to Don Meung. I remember a Qantas plane over shooting a runway there (for whatever reason) and they couldn't just tow it out, the biggest problem with recovery was that it sank into the mud up to it's engines.

Your new I take it.

[indieke]

I have booked on orient Thai end of March with Orient Thai, because they went back to the new airport (deal much more interesting then fake deals on Air asia), hope they not fly back then on Don Muang, much further to Pattaya, to seem friends!

[webfact]

Don Mueang Airport to resume operation on 6 March

BANGKOK, 31 January 2012 (NNT) – Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AoT) has announced that Don Mueang Airport will be able to resume its operation on 6 March while confirming no impact on flight operations from the upcoming maintenance work at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

According to AoT President Anirut Thanomkulbutra, Don Mueang Airport is scheduled to reopen for commercial services on 6 March after having been closed since the massive flood late last year. However, only the eastern runway will be available for use at the initial stage.

Low-cost carrier Nok Air has confirmed to move its services from Suvarnabhumi Airport back to Don Mueang Airport after its reopening while Orient Thai Airlines is currently deciding whether or not to return.

On the other hand, Mr. Anirut stated that Suvarnabhumi Airport will carry out a routine maintenance of the eastern runway in April after having been in service for five years. The repair work on the 1,620-square-meter surface is expected to be completed within 60 days under a budget of 150 million baht. However, flight operations will not be affected since the AoT and relevant agencies have prepared measures to prevent the maintenance work from causing inconveniences and flight delays.

In 2011, Suvarnabhumi Airport welcomed 47.9 million passengers. It is predicted that 50 million people will be traveling through the national airport in 2012, which exceeds its annual passenger capacity of 45 million. In order to accommodate the increasing number of passengers, the AoT is prepared to carry out the second phase of the Suvarnabhumi Airport development project under a budget of 62 billion baht. Construction is expected to begin in May.

-- NNT 2012-01-31

[Ricardo]

On the other hand, Mr. Anirut stated that Suvarnabhumi Airport will carry out a routine maintenance of the eastern runway in April after having been in service for five years. The repair work on the 1,620-square-meter surface is expected to be completed within 60 days under a budget of 150 million baht. However, flight operations will not be affected since the AoT and relevant agencies have prepared measures to prevent the maintenance work from causing inconveniences and flight delays.

"flight operations will not be affected", although pilots may sometimes have to dodge JCBs/buudozers while taking-off/landing during rush-hour, the view from the looking-forward onboard-camera will keep the passengers fully-entertained, and a contra-flow system may operate on the western-runway at times.

[astral]

I am puzzled by this report.

However, only the eastern runway will be opened for services, said the AOT president.

In April, Suvarnabhumi airport will repair the eastern runway

Does this mean the airport will close again in April??

[whybother]

I am puzzled by this report.

However, only the eastern runway will be opened for services, said the AOT president.

In April, Suvarnabhumi airport will repair the eastern runway

Does this mean the airport will close again in April??

Don Mueang has 2 runways. Only the Eastern runway will be opening at this stage.

Suvarnabhumi also has 2 runways. The Eastern runway will be closing for repair in April.

[Ricardo]

On the other hand, Mr. Anirut stated that Suvarnabhumi Airport will carry out a routine maintenance of the eastern runway in April after having been in service for five years. The repair work on the 1,620-square-meter surface is expected to be completed within 60 days under a budget of 150 million baht.

The runways at Suvarnabhumi are 60m wide, according to Wikipedia, so if they're repairing a total of 1,620 sq.m., that's a strip of only 27m long, out of a total runway-length of either 3,700 or 4,000 m.

So less-than 1% of the runway needs maintenance, but it will take 2 months to do ?

Perhaps they just need to repaint the white-lines, or something.

Edited January 31, 2012 by Ricardo