Suvarnabhumi Airport Will Open At End Of June Or Mid-july At The Latest

[sriracha john]

There are some pretty knowlegable people on this forum regarding airport ops but I would guess that if everything was done and working then certification would take a few months of testing. If they staff it in March or April they would have trouble landing in June or July. I am betting that it gets open in December, any takers out there?

I have never read anywhere that the 180-day ICAO testing/certification period had begun (anybody know differently?). I don't see how June or July could be realistic either unless the ICAO, much like the United Nations, is not Mr. Big's father.

After reading the entire BP article, I intepret the 6 month certification process only begins AFTER all construction has completed (whenever that may be).

Unlike bad mouthing the UN, I don't think Mr. Big has any options in this situation as I believe no airline will land or operate at an ICAO-uncertified airport.

[astral]

After reading the entire BP article, I intepret the 6 month certification process only begins AFTER all construction has completed (whenever that may be).

Unlike bad mouthing the UN, I don't think Mr. Big has any options in this situation as I believe no airline will land or operate at an ICAO-uncertified airport.

If that is true we are talking about an opening in Jan 2007

and it will all be blamed on the "new government".

Edited March 2, 2006 by astral

[Maejo Man]

If that is true we are talking about an opening in Jan 2007

and it will all be blamed on the "new government".

Gosh! Would they really do that Astral? Surely not

[xbusman]

I dont think the ICAO testing program is mandated at 180 days, I think thats the average time for a new, well planned, professionally staffed airport. Now think of the logistics of transferring operations seamlessly, its not just filling out paperwork and hitting a switch. Everyone has to show complete competence on the new systems which takes lots of time, all the while keeping the old airport running at about 115% of capacity.

Thinking about it, I am revising to a second soft opening or more appropriately a "semi-hard" opening in December with certification coming sometime in late 2007 in time for the A380 deliveries.

[sriracha john]

I agree. I predict it will go from soft to semi-hard to a fully erect opening in late 2007.

[IMA_FARANG]

Suvarnabhumi airport will open at end of June or mid-July at the latest

Suvarnabhumi Airport will commercially open at the end of June or by mid-July at the latest, and it will operate in the form of a single airport like most of its kind throughout the world.

Mr. Bancha Pattanaphorn (บัญชา ปัตตนาภรณ์), the Chief Director of Airports of Thailand Plc. (AOT), said that the government's dissolution of the Parliament is not affecting the construction of Suvarnabhumi Airport. He said the construction progress at the end of last year’s December through this January period reached 96%. Thus, the airport's opening will take place around the end of June, or in mid July at the latest.

The site will operate as a single airport, where flights both domestic and international will use its service. In the meantime point-to-point flights, small aircrafts and chartered flights will use Don Muang airport.

As for the airport usage fee, AOT will initially charge the earlier designated rates and will be raising them by around 10% in December this year. Even after the rate adjustment, Suvarnabhumi's Airport fees would still be less than those charged in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 Febuary 2006

Frankly I doubt that the airport will be open before the end of this year- 2006, that is. But the crucial question is...when it does start operations with international flights arriving...it will sometime I assume...what will be the ground transportation available from there into Bangkok? How is a tourist supposed to get from the airport to Bangkok?

Exactly what is planned for transportaion?

Edited March 2, 2006 by IMA_FARANG

[britmaveric]

Suvarnabhumi airport will open at end of June or mid-July at the latest

Suvarnabhumi Airport will commercially open at the end of June or by mid-July at the latest, and it will operate in the form of a single airport like most of its kind throughout the world.

Mr. Bancha Pattanaphorn (บัญชา ปัตตนาภรณ์), the Chief Director of Airports of Thailand Plc. (AOT), said that the government's dissolution of the Parliament is not affecting the construction of Suvarnabhumi Airport. He said the construction progress at the end of last year’s December through this January period reached 96%. Thus, the airport's opening will take place around the end of June, or in mid July at the latest.

The site will operate as a single airport, where flights both domestic and international will use its service. In the meantime point-to-point flights, small aircrafts and chartered flights will use Don Muang airport.

As for the airport usage fee, AOT will initially charge the earlier designated rates and will be raising them by around 10% in December this year. Even after the rate adjustment, Suvarnabhumi's Airport fees would still be less than those charged in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 Febuary 2006

Frankly I doubt that the airport will be open before the end of this year- 2006, that is. But the crucial question is...when it does start operations with international flights arriving...it will sometime I assume...what will be the ground transportation available from there into Bangkok? How is a tourist supposed to get from the airport to Bangkok?

Exactly what is planned for transportaion?

Taxi - 2000bht take you to BKK!

[astral]

supposed to get from the airport to Bangkok?

Exactly what is planned for transportaion?

Taxi - 2000bht take you to BKK!

I wonder who will get the lucrative contract?

A SH********** related company??

[Maejo Man]

I wonder who will get the lucrative contract?

A SH********** related company??

Astral go wash your mouth out with soap, for even considering that the trusty leader would have anything to do with such a venture

[Ricardo]

I wonder who will get the lucrative contract?

A SH********** related company??

Astral go wash your mouth out with soap, for even considering that the trusty leader would have anything to do with such a venture

Nor would it ever be a member of his family, making their business-investments themselves, and entirely without reference to the head of the family.

[astral]

Consider my mouth washed.....................

Who did you think I meant, there must be other company/family names that

start with Sh................

[Maejo Man]

Consider my mouth washed.....................

Who did you think I meant, there must be other company/family names that

start with Sh................

Of course Astral it must be the Shinywentra family of Chiangrai that you were referring to My abject apologies

[penzman]

Jaruvan to return to airport scanner case

Controversial auditor general Jaruvan Maintaka, who regained her job last month, has vowed to look into an airport equipment purchase scandal that prompted a censure motion against the Thai transport minister nine months ago.

"I still have not forgotten the CTX case," said Mrs Jaruvan, addressing a seminar on corruption organised by the GTZ (German Technical Cooperation Organization) in Bangkok.

In June last year Thailand's opposition parties brought a no-confidence motion against then-Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit on corruption charges for the $65 million purchase of a CTX explosive detection system for Bangkok's new international airport from the US-based GE InVision.

The scandal came to light after it was revealed that GE InVision was under investigation by the Justice Department for corrupt practices in its business dealings in Thailand, the Philippines and China.

The censure motion was voted down in the Lower House, where the Thai Rak Thai Party of Thai Prime Minister Thaskin Shinwatra held 377 out of the 500 seats, but questions about the deal remain.

"I am going to write a letter to the Department of Justice in the USA for further information," Mrs Jaruvan told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. "I have audited the deal for some time."

Jaruvan was blocked from her job between July, 2004, to February 1, 2006, by a political maneuver initiated by seven pro-government senators who questioned the validity of her appointment to the powerful post in May 2001.

Mrs Jaruvan refused to resign despite a Constitutional Court ruling in favour of the senators' petition, arguing that only Thai King Bhumiboil Adulyadej, who as head of state approved her appointment, could sack her.

On February 1, this year, Mrs Jaruvan was reinstated, reportedly on the urgings of King Bhumibol and Prime Minister Thaksin.

Thaksin, now a caretaker prime minister under growing pressure to resign, may regret his decision.

"From all my audits we found that all government projects, every big project, the government paid higher prices than they were supposed to," Mrs Jaruvan told the seminar.

Thaksin is under intense pressure to resign because of alleged abuses of power in office and because of charges of rampant, unchecked corruption taking place under his five-year rule.

He has called for a snap election on April 2, but many have dubbed the polls a dodge to avoid investigations into the corruption scandals. - (dpa)

Bangkok Post

[sriracha john]

Jaruvan to return to airport scanner case

Controversial auditor general Jaruvan Maintaka,

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...ndpost&p=665265

[penzman]

Thanks John. These political threads are getting confusing!

[sriracha john]

Thanks John. These political threads are getting confusing!

mai pen rai... I recall 5 separate thaksin threads running simultaneously a couple of weeks ago.... all with 10 pages plus... PHEW!... now THAT was hard to keep up with....

btw, I understand that the normally conservative Jaruvan is sporting a new shocking, full-back tattoo:

Edited March 3, 2006 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Airlines skeptical of airport’s launch date

By Lan Anh Nguyen

16 March 2006 21:29

ThaiDay

Despite repeated assurances from Airports of Thailand (AoT) officials that Suvarnabhumi International Airport will be operational in June, executives of international airlines said the multibillion-dollar airport is more likely to open by the end of the year.

Contractors have yet to complete construction work at the new airport, while systems administration still requires vigorous testing before it will be ready for the opening, said Brian Sinclair-Thompson, president of the Board of Airline Representatives, which represents nearly 60 airlines operating in Thailand.

“I think it is going to open by the end of this year,” said Sinclair-Thompson, who visited Suvarnabhumi recently. “My feeling is that it would take some time. There is a lot of work [that] needs to done, especially system testing, to make sure it is fully functional before the opening.”

AoT officials have recently dodged questions about the opening date, saying that they are trying to ready the airport by the end of June.

AoT announced yesterday that a portion of the west runway would be cut and resurfaced as part of a new taxiway project connecting the first and third runways. AoT officials insisted that this has nothing to do with the alleged crack on the runway that stirred controversies about mismanagement and corruption a few months ago.

“We are just trying to resurface the runway to ensure smoothness between the runway and the taxiway,” said Surajit Surapolchai, AoT’s senior vice president in charge of project management. “The area is only 10 centimeters [in] length.”

say wha??? the distance between the runway and the taxiway is 10 cm???? 10 centimeters is this long: " _____"

.... is this the same guy who said Runway #1 was 2 meters long?

According to Somchai Sawasdeepon, the airport director, AoT is trying to outsource the management of various services, including airport security, cleaning, transportation and budgeting. The bidding process is likely to take more time than expected and might affect the opening.

“We are trying to meet the schedule and finish everything in June, but with a megaproject like this, many problems could emerge,” Somchai said.

Congratulations Somchai!... You've Won!!

Thaivisa's Understatement Of The Year!!

Surajit said that most of the construction work would be completed by the end of this month. AoT previously said construction work would be finished by the end of 2005.

Meanwhile, international airlines have maintained that Thailand should conduct intensive tests and training before the airport opening to avoid the kind of systems disasters that occurred at other airports in the region like Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok.

“We still have a lot of concerns, a lot of issues need to be [resolved] to make sure this is a world-class airport,” Sinclair-Thompson said.

The airlines have insisted that Thailand start building a midfield terminal and add more contact gates at Suvarnabhumi to avoid the inevitable congestion, Sinclair-Thompson said. The airport, which will accommodate 45 million passengers a year, is supposed to solve the traffic problem at Don Muang International Airport. But airlines have warned that Suvarnabhumi will be facing traffic problems as soon as it reaches full passenger capacity at the end of this year.

Most foreign airlines do not welcome the plan to keep Don Muang as a supplement to Suvarnabhumi, saying this should only be a last resort. They add that both airports should collect equal fees and charges.

They have opposed the AoT’s plan to set Suvarnabhumi fees at levels 15-percent higher than Don Muang’s, but AoT and BAR’s members have agreed to discuss the matter.

[dan10400]

“We are just trying to resurface the runway to ensure smoothness between the runway and the taxiway,” said Surajit Surapolchai, AoT’s senior vice president in charge of project management. “The area is only 10 centimeters [in] length.”

say wha??? the distance between the runway and the taxiway is 10 cm???? 10 centimeters is this long: " _____"

.... is this the same guy who said Runway #1 was 2 meters long?

maybe he is referring to the 'gaps' that don't really exist (between

the runways and taxi ways).

there might be a chance of having a june 2006 opening, as long as

nobody plans on receiving their baggage the same week as arrival.

[Plus]

Will it be the same as every bridgeneck in Thailand? The bridges are concrete, the roads are concrete, but the gaps between them are filled with sand and some asphalt on top. It caves in in about three days.

[Jai Dee]

The Airport of Thailand Plc. is preparing for officially opening the Suvarnabhumi Airport in the end of June

The Airport of Thailand Public Company Limited is preparing for officially openning the Suvarnabhumi Airport in the end of June. The opening schedule will be hold to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Throne.

The Executive Vice President of New Bangkok International Airport Co., Ltd. (NBIA), Mr. Surajit Surapolchai (สุรจิต สุรพลชัย), has disclosed the progress of the construction of Suvarnabhumi Airport that the construction will be completed within this March. He added that the decoration of the airport will be finished within June.

Following the proceeding of the construction of taxi way linked run way 1 and 3 together, he said that officials will start fine-tuning the road surface tomorrow. The adjustment will be completed within one month. He has confirmed that the adjustment will be made to provide convenience for planes while they are landing, not for fixing the cracked runways as someone has claimed.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 March 2006

[PeaceBlondie]

Well, some Thai men think this ___________ is fifteen centimeters or six inches.

[Jai Dee]

Mr. Somchai confirms that the current political turmoil has no impact on the official opening of the Suvarnabhumi Airport

The Suvarnabhumi Airport Director, Mr. Somchai Sawadeephol (สมชัย สวัสดีผล), has confirmed that the current political turmoil has no impact on the official opening date of the Suvarnbhumi Airport.

He said the project to build this new airport has long been approved before the emergence of the political turbulence, adding that the construction of the airport is nearly completed. He stated that the construction budget for this project has also been approved by Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC).

He said that the government will consider the date of the airport’s actual operation once again.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 March 2006

[sierra01]

Why wasn't the new airport designed to handle domestic and intl? Don Muang handles both to this day. The new airport as of yet has not provisions to handle the A380, this while (old) airports around the world have already been retrofitted for it. I don't see any advantages and it seems a real inconvenience for passengers needing to connect between airports. Is this the biggest white elephant in the history of Thailand or am I missing something?

I think it is/will be equiped to handle the A380, but not many gates. If the A380 is an immediate success then the new airport will have even more problems.

[PeaceBlondie]

Is there such political turmoil now that every time a statement is made by the government, even the opening of a som tam stand at Mae Hong Son air field, the government has to clarify they're not doing this because of the turmoil?

Methinks he protesteth too loudly.

[Maejo Man]

The Airport of Thailand Plc. is preparing for officially opening the Suvarnabhumi Airport in the end of June

The Airport of Thailand Public Company Limited is preparing for officially openning the Suvarnabhumi Airport in the end of June. The opening schedule will be hold to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Throne.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 March 2006

That's all fine and wonderful, but nowhere does he say "operational" The airport can only be certified once it is complete, and certification takes time. (tea money for a certificate won't work) My bet is still on it being operational in December.

[faranginbkk]

My Thai friend tells me that the company in charge of duty free goods at Subvannabhumi, King Power, is controlled by Panthongtae. A monopoly..naturally. If it is correct, it's a disgrace.

[britmaveric]

december what year???

[Maejo Man]

december what year???

OK I'll pay that one Brit, you got me there, I must have picked up the habit from somewhere This year 2006

[penzman]

The Airport of Thailand Plc. is preparing for officially opening the Suvarnabhumi Airport in the end of June.

White elephants are always slower.

[Plus]

My Thai friend tells me that the company in charge of duty free goods at Subvannabhumi, King Power, is controlled by Panthongtae.

I think it's incorrect.