Iata Urges Thailand To Delay Airport Opening

[george]

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

IATA urges Thailand to delay opening

BANGKOK: -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged Thailand to postpone the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport from around early July to December, citing problems by member airlines in entering a passenger building to set up their service systems.

More than 270 airlines hold IATA membership in 140 countries. The latest call came after the international body's meeting on April 4 and 5.

As the planned opening of the new airport is only three months away, most airlines planning to shift their operations from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi expressed concern at the gathering that only Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways had so far entered the passenger building to set up new offices.

An IATA source said the other airlines could not enter the new airport because ITO Joint Venture, the constructor, has still not handed over the project to Airports of Thailand (AoT).

Under regular procedures AoT, the agency responsible for Thai airports, must inform all airlines six months in advance of the opening of the new airport.

Large carriers need three months to prepare operation space and test service systems.

But the uncertainty over when Suvarnabhumi will be officially opened is now a prime concern for the airlines.

''There remain only three months to the July scheduled opening. This may be inadequate for airlines' preparation work. It is thus in the best interests of everyone to postpone [the opening date] to December,'' the source said.

Several airlines were unhappy with the double-airport policy, where Don Muang would be retained to cater to low-cost airlines and chartered flights, according to the same source.

They said all carriers wanted a presence in Don Muang, given its much lower landing and other fees than Suvarnabhumi.

The future of Don Muang is expected to be tabled in talks on Thursday between caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, AoT, the Department of Aviation and the Airline Operators Committee.

--Bangkok Post 2006-04-17

[Jai Dee]

Suvarnabhumi Airport Director affirms airport will be operational by July

The Director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Mr. Somchat Sawasdeepol (สมชัย สวัสดีผล), has affirmed that the airport will be operational by this July.

Mr. Somchat stated that the construction of the Suvarnabhumi Airport is nearing completion, and will be open for service in July. He said a more specific date will be announced shortly by the Ministry of Transport. He denied all allegations of shoddy construction standards of the airport, and affirms that the airport meets all standards including traveller security, air traffic control, baggage transport, and other vital components.

The airport director added that the Don Muang International Airport will be turned into a repair yard for planes.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 April 2006

[jdinasia]

hmmmm doesn't a new airport HAVE to have IATA approval before opening?

[Ricardo]

Whoopsie !

Looks like someone overseas finally noticed that the necessary steps, before the opening of a new international-airport, aren't happening on schedule, and spoke up about it. Well Done IATA !

Now look for the announcement from Thailand, of the delay in opening, blaming it on farang airlines, who can't get their offices equipped in-time !

[Axel]

...and just imagine, there is an opening party and nobody flies in.

[cclub75]

The airport director added that the Don Muang International Airport will be turned into a repair yard for planes.

Alors, let's sumarize...

First : we close DM.

Then : we use DM buildings to relocate some ministers, administration offices

And then : we keep DM for private air traffic.

And then : we might use DM as a second airport for low cost airlines

And now : DM will be a repair yard (cimetery ?)

But anyway, we should be reluctent to believe this famous "director" who keep saying that "sabai july we will open" when his own minister (transport) 2 weeks ago said the contrary.

[Rinrada]

or just re open it as a Disneyland........seems to already have its full quota of micky mouses

[Maejo Man]

With so much "in fighting" it's difficult to know who to believe, but operational by July06 is an impossibility.

Two hunded shops to be fitted out and stocked. One hundred and thirty plus airline facilities to be built and tested, including linking of computers to the central AIM system.

The contractors have not yet handed over the project to the AOT, and untill such time, the airlines will be unable to gain access to the terminal buildings to set up their facilities.

Then there's the small matter of certification from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) coupled with an IATA inspection.

July 07 Although Dec 5th is still a favourite.

Airport '7 months behind schedule'

(TNA) - The director of the new Suvarnabhumi Airport claimed the project was on time and would be ready by next month - but hours later his boss Deputy Transport Minister Chainant Charoensiri said the controversial airport would not be ready before 2007.

It will take at least seven months to give the finishing touches to the airport, said Gen Chainant.

It is impossible for the Suvarnabhumi airport to be opened commercially in June as planned, because it will take seven months to test systems and to complete unfinished work such as furnishing about 200 shops in the passenger terminals.

In addition, the specialised heavy-duty canvas used to cover the roof needed repairing and it would take about seven months, he said.

Somchai Sawadeephol, the airport director, said just hours earlier that everything at the airport was excellent, the last testing of the Information Management System (AIMS) was under way, and finishing touches and all decorating would be finished by the end of next month.

Mr Somchai said the Airports of Thailand Plc has approved the decoration plans, and airlines have submitted their documents for moving their offices into the airport. He said there has been much progress overall.

Gen Chainant begged to differ. The state-of-the-art IT connections for about 40 systems have not been completed and each system and the overall system must be tested prior to the airport's functional opening, he said.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will inspect Suvarnabhumi Airport before the commercial opening, Gen Chainant said. It is too soon to talk about the commercial opening now. - (BP, TNA)

[Toni]

...and just imagine, there is an opening party and nobody flies in.

again????

[Thaising]

Hope that nothing-untoward happening on the opening day, or else it could become a laughing stock for the traveling industries to see.

[Maejo Man]

Hope that nothing-untoward happening on the opening day, or else it could become a laughing stock for the traveling industries to see.

Which day is that Thaising? Is there something you're not telling us?

[britmaveric]

This is a joke of major proportions - let's keep confusing people by reporting delay then no delay? There is no way the airport will open in July.

[Thaising]

Hope that nothing-untoward happening on the opening day, or else it could become a laughing stock for the traveling industries to see.

Which day is that Thaising? Is there something you're not telling us?

Still scratching my head on the actual opening day.

[astral]

.........(IATA) has urged Thailand to postpone the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport from around early July to December..........

How very convenient.

Anyone taking bets on the 5th December.

It will be a very auspicious day.

[Maejo Man]

.........(IATA) has urged Thailand to postpone the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport from around early July to December..........

How very convenient.

Anyone taking bets on the 5th December.

It will be a very auspicious day.

It's got my vote Astral, but Brit seems to think sometine 07. Personally I'd rather keep using the old DM

[jdinasia]

This is a joke of major proportions - let's keep confusing people by reporting delay then no delay? There is no way the airport will open in July.

Another pithy prediction .... (I'd bet on this one too ... alas sadly I agree)

[troglodyte]

.........(IATA) has urged Thailand to postpone the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport from around early July to December..........

How very convenient.

Anyone taking bets on the 5th December.

Hmmmm. Wait until peak season and then open (aka test) the airport systems.

No worries, i am sure things will go smooooooooothly.

--trog

[markuk]

who cares it will open when it opens!!

like everything else in this country it is a joke not worth talking about...

[stumonster]

who cares it will open when it opens!!

the don muang tollway operators care when it opens - they have just upped the toll for entry onto that section of the tollway

[markuk]

who cares it will open when it opens!!

the don muang tollway operators care when it opens - they have just upped the toll for entry onto that section of the tollway

well as soon as it opens their income will drop right down wont it!!

[saeb]

With so much "in fighting" it's difficult to know who to believe, but operational by July06 is an impossibility.

Two hunded shops to be fitted out and stocked. One hundred and thirty plus airline facilities to be built and tested, including linking of computers to the central AIM system.

The contractors have not yet handed over the project to the AOT, and untill such time, the airlines will be unable to gain access to the terminal buildings to set up their facilities.

Then there's the small matter of certification from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) coupled with an IATA inspection.

July 07 Although Dec 5th is still a favourite.

Spot on Maejo - what about the ICAO?. I note a distinct lack of speech on this from those involved.

We are looking at three fairly busy airports operating heavy traffic in a fairly small geographical area and in certain seasons subject to specific weather conditions which can and do intefere with aircraft operations. (Don Muang, U-Tapao, and the nearly but not quite yet).

Stick in the military traffic from Don Muang, U-Tapao and the various other government aviation units scattered around the immediate area - I think the ICAO will need a fairly exhaustive set of anti conflict trials for starters.

[LaoPo]

By the way, here is the official website of the new airport:

including road maps etc.

http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/index.htm

Various route-maps...click on 'select' to different locations!

http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/location1en.php

LaoPo

Edited April 19, 2006 by LaoPo

[troglodyte]

who cares it will open when it opens!!

the don muang tollway operators care when it opens - they have just upped the toll for entry onto that section of the tollway

aaahh. in classic thai fashion - pre-positioning in order to buck the supply and demand relationship. less potential customers means raise prices!

[Toni]

who cares it will open when it opens!!

like everything else in this country it is a joke not worth talking about...

"who cares it will open when it opens!!"

nobody can care anymore; they started buying land around 1963 or am I wrong?

[Greer]

Er... if the current "official opening" or "commercial opening" is meant to be July 7, and it is to be delayed by 7 months, until Dec some time, since when does 7 + 7 = 12?

If they delay the July 7th opening by 7 months, that, surely, means it should open around 7th of FEBRUARY 2007!

Maybe I am going crazy, but none of the times seem to have been worked out properly.

If the building has not been handed over yet, and airlines generally require about 6 months to get set up and test everything, then unless the building is handed over in May, a six month set-up period will push things past December in any case.

I would really prefer that the government and those involved would just state the true facts and tell us the real projected opening date, allowing for all the repairs or make-goods required, the installation and testing of all facilities, the time required for airlines to get set up properly and to have full accreditation after all the appropriate international requirements have been met and inspections have taken place.

Who cares if it opens according to some political agenda if it doesn't work?

It is more of a problem if they keep on making up absolute rubbish about when the airport will open than just coming clean and saying "OK, it cannot open until such-and-such a date."

The lose face far more by these constant blatant lies and half-truths than they would if they just said there is a delay, but it will be open on a particular date, and stick to it.

Give us the real date - we all know it will be later than planned, but these things happen everywhere - it is a hazard of implementing large projects.

We will all be happier to know the place will open COMPLETELY, with everything working although a bit late, than to rush in and have to put up with compromises that could risk our security and endanger lives, or just result in huge delays in passenger services.

Please....

[lingling]

Er... if the current "official opening" or "commercial opening" is meant to be July 7, and it is to be delayed by 7 months, until Dec some time, since when does 7 + 7 = 12?

If they delay the July 7th opening by 7 months, that, surely, means it should open around 7th of FEBRUARY 2007!

Maybe I am going crazy, but none of the times seem to have been worked out properly.

If the building has not been handed over yet, and airlines generally require about 6 months to get set up and test everything, then unless the building is handed over in May, a six month set-up period will push things past December in any case.

I would really prefer that the government and those involved would just state the true facts and tell us the real projected opening date, allowing for all the repairs or make-goods required, the installation and testing of all facilities, the time required for airlines to get set up properly and to have full accreditation after all the appropriate international requirements have been met and inspections have taken place.

Who cares if it opens according to some political agenda if it doesn't work?

It is more of a problem if they keep on making up absolute rubbish about when the airport will open than just coming clean and saying "OK, it cannot open until such-and-such a date."

The lose face far more by these constant blatant lies and half-truths than they would if they just said there is a delay, but it will be open on a particular date, and stick to it.

Give us the real date - we all know it will be later than planned, but these things happen everywhere - it is a hazard of implementing large projects.

We will all be happier to know the place will open COMPLETELY, with everything working although a bit late, than to rush in and have to put up with compromises that could risk our security and endanger lives, or just result in huge delays in passenger services.

Please....

Hmm, I seem to remember that they had an opening party last year. So it is already open, isn't it?

[penzman]

You're all way too optimistic.

2008

[sonnyJ]

Greer, I think the real problem is that nobody knows whats the real opening date, and that's the greatest face loss as far as I'm concearned.

[Jai Dee]

Minister of Transport to quickly finish construction work at Suvarnabhumi Airport construction

The Minister of Transport stated that he will be hastening the activation of Suvarnabhumi Airport so that it will be completely functional financially by the end of July.

General Chainan Charoensiri (ชัยนันท์ เจริญศิริ), the minister of transport, stated after conducting an inspection of Suvarnabhumi Airport with more than 100 army engineering units from the Chon Buri Engineering Regiment, that he was concerned about the incompletion of certain aspects of the airport, especially the layout of the tarps covering the aircraft hangars, which is still in the construction phase. The General is optimistic and expects the hangars and the duty free shops in the airport terminal to be completed well within June.

General Chainan adds that the fracture on the floor of certain buildings would not be a problem and can be easily corrected.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 29 April 2006

[Maejo Man]

Don't you just love that phrase? he will be hastening the activation

Minister of Transport to quickly finish construction work at Suvarnabhumi Airport construction

The Minister of Transport stated that he will be hastening the activation of Suvarnabhumi Airport so that it will be completely functional financially by the end of July.

General Chainan Charoensiri (ชัยนันท์ เจริญศิริ), the minister of transport, stated after conducting an inspection of Suvarnabhumi Airport with more than 100 army engineering units from the Chon Buri Engineering Regiment, that he was concerned about the incompletion of certain aspects of the airport, especially the layout of the tarps covering the aircraft hangars, which is still in the construction phase. The General is optimistic and expects the hangars and the duty free shops in the airport terminal to be completed well within June.

General Chainan adds that the fracture on the floor of certain buildings would not be a problem and can be easily corrected.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 29 April 2006