Airports Of Thailand (AoT) Urged To Boost Don Mueang Airport Use

[webfact]

AoT urged to boost Don Mueang Airport use

BANGKOK, March 29 – Thailand’s Ministry of Transport urged the Airports of Thailand (AoT) to maximise capacity of Don Mueang Airport as Suvarnabhumi Airport now handles an excessive number of passengers, Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sittipan said on Thursday.

Don Mueang Airport can accommodate more flights and negotiations between the AoT and airlines are underway to woo more airlines to relocate their services to Thailand’s former international gateway, now mainly used for domestic flights, he said.

Don Mueang Airport has the full capacity to serve 300 flights per day while currently, it accommodates only 120 flights per day, Mr Chatchart said.

The minister also instructed all air transport agencies to be prepared for the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

The minister made the statement to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the air transport department under the supervision of the transport ministry.

Initially, a study will be conducted on how many air passengers will increase and basic infrastructures such as Suvarnabhumi Airport expansion must be carried out to address problems of the crowded airport.

The Air Navigation Act should be amended in response to the liberalisation to boost investment among the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he said.

Airport personnel will be trained and the air traffic system will be upgraded to serve more flights.

Meanwhile, Anirut Thanomkulbutra, president of Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) said Suvarnabhumi Airport accommodates almost 50 million passengers per year despite its capacity of 45 million passengers per year.

During the Thai New Year festival in April, the number of passengers is expected to increase by 10,000 people per day from the existing daily passenger load of 150,000-160,000 people.

The AoT president said he assigned airport officials to be prepared for the higher number of passengers during the festival period with strict security measures. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-29

[laurentbkk]

they can use it until the next flood ..... in November this year .

[Pib]

they can use it until the next flood ..... in November this year .

Then they can use it for a boat harbor.

[bangon04]

"Airport personnel will be trained and the air traffic system will be upgraded to serve more flights."

well that is good news...........

[Bluespunk]

I thought all the low cost airlines had been ordered to move there by " she who must be obeyed".

Edited March 29, 2012 by Bluespunk

[yumidesign]

I thought all the low cost airlines had been ordered to move there by " she who must be obeyed".

Doubt Air Asia would be tricked into moving it would wreck their business, and then there is the matter of their planes not being equipped to land on water

Edited March 30, 2012 by yumidesign

[anterian]

If the major carriers would just rout one flight per week to Don Mueang, I'm sure they would sell the seats, it is much more convenient for those living in West and northwest Bangkok areas.

[ginjag]

yumidesign--Air Asia could use Sunderlands.

Anaterian--One day Yingluck ordered all budget airlines to go to D.M.---2 days ago it was stated 'OPTIONAL"   what the F.  but I agree why not get some International-Long haul-carriers, to switch---problem being their internal flight may go from Swampy-or vise-versa--how can we suit the tourists best. I can only see one way===have a runway/taxiway--for aircraft to taxi from D.M to swampy on an extended runway.....  because they havent got a speedy train direct from swampy to D.M.   HERE LIES THE PROBLEM

[Ajaan]

She never "ordered all budget airlines to go to D.M."...it was always "encouraged" with "incentives."

The Nation reported the story with the more sensational "She Ordered Them!" headline, while the Bangkok Post went with a less exciting (and much more accurate) headline.

Thaivisa.com, always favoring the sensational and provocative news headline, used the Nation's story in its "breaking news" e-mail so they could draw maximum members to the website who would hopefully click on ads and make Thaivisa yet more money. Surely, you've noticed by now that this is how they work...

[radiochaser]

I thought all the low cost airlines had been ordered to move there by " she who must be obeyed".

What????

My wife told them to move to Don Muang???