Suvarnabhumi Airport Set To Open On Sept 28

[eddy-ham]

Hi,

I am flying in on the 28th Sept with Emirates so this should be good...a life long experience.

Still for all you Aircraft people...........

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/...light+over.html

Don't get stuck behind 4 of these when they land.

[Templer]

Sorry Cheeky Farang did not make my self too clear.

She will be flying from the UK

Returning on the 8th October to the UK

from Don Mung airport

Travel agent in UK

[sriracha john]

Nok Air opts out on big day

Nok Airlines, the budget carrier affiliated with Thai Airways International (THAI), will suspend all flights on Sept 28, partly to avoid possible chaos that could emerge from the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport. The suspension, which will affect 30 flights and 5,000 travellers, will also allow the airline to take stock of problems that could emerge over the previous two days when Nok Air starts early operations ahead of the airport's opening date. The airline will resume its regular service from Suvarnabhumi on Sept 29. ''We thought it prudent to take a break on Sept 28 to see what may have gone wrong on the previous two days and find solutions to ensure smooth operations upon the resumption of flights in the following days,'' Mr Sehapan said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/06Sep2006_biz19.php

[slimdog]

Flights cancelled to avoid opening chaos

Airlines are beginning to cancel flights on September 28 in order to avoid the chaos expected on the day that Suvarnabhumi Airport is officially opened.

Local budget carrier Nok Air has announced it will cancel 30 flights on September 28, and Singapore Airlines and Air France have both informed the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) that they will cancel one flight each.

DCA director general Chaisak Angkasuwan said the two international cancellations involve a passenger service of Singapore airlines and a cargo flight of Air France.

The Nation

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30012935

[geoffphuket]

Flights cancelled to avoid opening chaos

Airlines are beginning to cancel flights on September 28 in order to avoid the chaos expected on the day that Suvarnabhumi Airport is officially opened.

Local budget carrier Nok Air has announced it will cancel 30 flights on September 28, and Singapore Airlines and Air France have both informed the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) that they will cancel one flight each.

DCA director general Chaisak Angkasuwan said the two international cancellations involve a passenger service of Singapore airlines and a cargo flight of Air France.

The Nation

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30012935

Very reassuring

[cclub75]

Very reassuring

I would say : very strange.

If they have concerns about "chaos" why would they cancel... 1 flight (and 1 cargo) ?

[Pattaya_Fox]

Hi,

I am flying in on the 28th Sept with Emirates so this should be good...a life long experience.

Still for all you Aircraft people...........

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/...light+over.html

Don't get stuck behind 4 of these when they land.

Thanks eddy......awsome.

[Maestro]

Edit: cancelled, because posted in wrong topic.

[Maestro]

I am flying in on the 28th Sept with Emirates so this should be good...a life long experience.

Eddy, please see this topic, where I am ranking the first arrivals in Bangkok after the official opening time of Suvarnabhumi for all international flights.

I see that Air Emirates has many flights arriving in Bangkok on 28 September and I should like to invite you to post the details of your flight in that topic.

--------------

Maestro

[sriracha john]

Students' safety risked in rush to open airport

College claims government ignored plea for Bt1.02 bn to address noise impact

The safety and welfare of thousands of students at Thailand's leading college is being ignored in the rush to open nearby Suvarnabhumi Airport, claim college executives.

Siriwat Bhothivejjakul, deputy rector of King Mongkut Institute of Technology, Lad Krabang, said the government had rushed the opening of the airport, even though environmental and security problems facing the college and its students have yet to be solved.

The institute's 12-storey building has not been fitted with an obstruction light to warn aircraft, while another 22 buildings that would be severely affected by high-level noise from aircraft landing and taking off have not been sound-proofed.

"About 100 of our buildings need to be modified to prevent noise and quake problems from the airport, which is located only 3-4 kilometres from us," Siriwat said.

The institute had asked Airports of Thailand (AOT) to set a budget of Bt1.02 billion to solve the problems, but it had been ignored, Siriwat said.

In February, the government resolved to pay a first instalment of Bt214 million, but the academy has not received the money, although the airport is going to open on September 28.

Siriwat said each time the institute consulted the government about other possible effects, it would simply set up a committee which failed to take any action. He said the formation of more than 100 committees had failed to solve the problems.

"If the airport is opened without these problems being solved, the opening would go against the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation," Siriwat said.

"The institute plans to gather students and residents in the affected area to protest about the airport opening and to petition the Administrative Court."

Somchai Sawasdeepon, general manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said the Bt214 million payment to the college was being processed. ahhh.... the old, "the check is in the mail" ploy

He pledged the airport would look after all organisations, institutes and people affected by the airport during construction and after its opening.

But Siriwat said even if the money was paid today, it would be impossible to modify the college buildings before the airport opened. The institute would have to spend at least two or three months on the work.

An institute source studying the airport's environmental effects said the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning had called on the AOT to clarify the reasons for its delay in taking action to prevent environmental effects following the environmental impact assessment.

- The Nation

*Channel 11's Newsline last night also added that protests at the airport's opening are planned by the university.

[sriracha john]

Additional information:

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has identified the institute's two buildings as ''a risk outside the airport''.

Concerns were renewed after press reports that a PB Air pilot panicked while descending onto Suvarnabhumi airport during a test flight on July 29.

The pilot observed that the 12-storey building at KMITL with the antenna on top could present an obstacle for landings and take-offs, particularly for pilots unfamiliar with the area.

''We have ordered KMITL to solve the problem of the antenna and highrise buildings. Indeed, KMITL built the high-rises in the aviation zone without seeking a permit from the district. The problem would not have arisen had the university abided by the law,'' said Mr Chaisak, director-general of the Aviation Department

Mr Chaisak's comment infuriated the KMITL vice-president. ''How can a state university be a law breaker when the buildings were designed by the Department of Civil Works with the approval of the Cabinet?'' Mr Siriwat said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/07Sep2006_news04.php

[britmaveric]

Mr Chaisak's comment infuriated the KMITL vice-president. ''How can a state university be a law breaker when the buildings were designed by the Department of Civil Works with the approval of the Cabinet?'' Mr Siriwat said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/07Sep2006_news04.php

Got a point!!!

[sriracha john]

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

Check-in system sputters in test

'Modern' machines spit out blank boarding passes and luggage tags, yet trial is hailed as an unqualified success

Less than three weeks before its opening, Suvarnabhumi Airport's check-in system is not yet complete. It failed to print boarding passes and baggage tags during tests in front of representatives from 23 airlines yesterday.

Still, the airlines said they happy with the overall demonstration results, saying that the system was more modern and would be less time-consuming than at Don Muang airport.

Moreover, say airport representatives, there is still ample time to correct the problems that were evident yesterday before the airport will be officially opened on September 28.

According to Sopin Daengteth, chairman of the Airline Operators Committee (AOC), which represents more than 65 airlines and associated bodies, only 23 airlines that have completed their own information technology systems participated in the testing yesterday, which was organised by Airports of Thailand (AOT), which runs the Kingdom's main airports.

"Others were absent because they could not yet complete their own check-in systems," she said, noting that the system was not yet ready though many airlines had started testing individually in March.

Among the missing airlines were Swiss Air, Scandinavian Airlines and FinnAir.

They have not yet completed their own IT systems, which was developed by information technology firm SITA.

Many airlines were absent from the testing because they could not spare any employees from their current operations at Don Muang airport. So far, SITA has confirmed with the airlines that it will complete the IT installation next Monday September 11. Then operators can conduct tests individually.

During the first official check-in system test yesterday, luggage tags and boarding passes could not be printed out at several points, including the Thai Airways International (THAI) counter.

The airlines had to address the problem by hand writing all passenger information on tags and boarding passes instead of using the computerised system.

"Still, overall, we are happy with the result," said Sopin.

Sopin also said that the official opening of the new airport would be on schedule although some airlines have decided to cancel flights on September 27 and 28 to avoid confusion.

"We believe that the airport will iron out the problems before the opening date of September 28," she said.

AOC and AOT plan to hold another test at the passenger gates soon.

Chaiwat Wararaj, area station manager of Austrian Airlines, said the airport check-in system was ready. Chaiwat said he did not see any serious troubles in the check-in test yesterday, noting that airlines will be happy with the new technology.

Somchai Sawasdeepon, director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said that tests have been ongoing since the beginning of this year.

The new system is called Common Use Terminal Equipment - or CUTE - which can work at all 460 counters at the same time.

Somchai said the airport would use the test results to improve service for both airlines and passengers.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

More snags emerge in airport tests

Several airlines joining the first full-scale luggage handling and check-in tests at Suvarnabhumi yesterday complained about flaws which authorities promised to sort out by the time the international airport officially opens on Sept 28. Twenty-two out of around 100 airlines operating regular flights to and from Bangkok joined the test handling of 4,000 units of luggage and the check-in system at all 460 counters in a simulation of the airport servicing 100 flights. The tests exposed problems with the conveyor system, which could not run smoothly due to problems with the integration of relevant information between Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) and the airlines, according to airline officials. They also were unable to link their data on passengers checking in with the airport agency. Luggage could not be sent from conveyor belts, Somkid Ngarmsiri-udom, traffic supervisor of Kuwait Airways, complained. Tentative information from his airline was not available because AoT had informed its headquarters in Kuwait that the test was scheduled for today and not yesterday, he added. Somchai Sawasdeepon, the airport's general manager, acknowledged that using staff with little experience had caused problems. AoT will repeat full-scale tests of the luggage conveyor system to solve problems ahead of the airport's opening. Anukalya Israsena na Ayutthaya, of Chulalongkorn University's engineering faculty, expected frustrations with public transport and flight connections. Ageing passengers and those without their own vehicles would find using Suvarnabhumi difficult as the airport lacked easy access to public transport. ''Imagine you have jet lag and a lot of baggage. This airport requires you to drag yourself and your suitcases on a shuttle bus to the taxi and bus terminal located kilometres away,'' he told a seminar on the airport. Mr Anukalya, an expert on the design of highways and airport systems, surveyed the airport last week and found that the large terminal, which is about three kilometres from one end to the other, could cause flight delays. Passengers on connecting flights would have to spend time walking from one gate to another. Criticism of basic amenities at Suvarnabhumi has mounted as the opening approaches, including a lack of signs and easy access to taxis, buses and toilets.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/08Sep2006_news07.php

[sriracha john]

Lack of disabled facilities slammed

The lack of facilities for the disabled at the new Suvarnabhumi airport has been slammed as contradicting the new national plan for developing the quality of life for disabled people, which is to be implemented next year. The draft of the third national plan for the disabled was introduced yesterday, with its main focus on empowering disabled people and enhancing a barrier-free society. Viriya Namsiripongpan, a blind law lecturer who chaired the drafting committee, said that the lack of facilities for the disabled at Suvarnabhumi airport defies the plan's vision. The airport is an important public place which all disabled people should have access to. Last month, a disabled group protested the matter and even filed lawsuits against caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, accusing them of dereliction of duty.

''This is unlike the Bangkok subway project which willingly attended to our demands, making it a public service that is friendly to the disabled,'' said Mr Viriya.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/08Sep2006_news09.php

[Ricardo]

Three miles end-to-end ? Talk about a 'hub of fitness' !

Hope they remembered to put in a few travelators.

Hand-written luggage-labels & boarding-cards, at a demo for airlines, only a few weeks before it all goes fully-live ?

Sounds like Nok Air have got the right plan - cancel all flights on day-1 !

[sriracha john]

World Record Holder Successfully Makes Connecting Flight

Daniel Komen of Kenya, world record holder for the 3000 meter racing event (both indoors and out), signals his pride at being the first person to successfully make the boarding call for Thai Airways Flight #55 (Bangkok to Chiang Mai), after arriving on Japan Airlines Flight #555 (Tokyo to Bangkok). Mr. Komen had been to a track and field event in Tokyo and was attempting to catch a flight to a track and field event being held in Chiang Mai. According to airport records, no one has ever connected to Flight #55 after arriving on Flight #555 since the airport's opening.

"Earlier, we thought that we might have look at the 3 kilometer distance between the two gates, but as Mr. Komen has shown, it can be done, so we've decided to leave things the way they are," said spokesman Khun Idunnoknow of the Airport Organization of Thailand (AOT).

After successfully arriving to much fanfare in Chiang Mai, Mr. Komen was heard to remark, "It's a good thing I followed the exact opposite of the direction signs posted at the BKK Airport as otherwise, I'd have missed the flight. Only problem is... my luggage is still in BKK."

Bangkok Herald-Examiner

23 February 2008

Predictable News of the Future Department

[Boxer]

Great Humour it is huge ....but, a good number of flights are already going to and from new place Domestic and International.

[Jai Dee]

Transport Ministry invites representatives and ambassadors to visit Suvarnabhumi Airport

The Ministry of Transport has invited representatives and ambassadors from all countries to visit Suvarnabhumi Airport to show its capabilities and latest innovations.

Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal (พงษ์ศักดิ์ รักตพงศ์ไพศาล) disclosed that the invitation will display the readiness of the airport, which will be opened for commercial services on the 28th of September.

He said the airport possesses high security systems and equipments, adding that it can act as a central connection hub for passengers. He said that diplomatic delegates will use the airport to welcome their important guests, and therefore, understanding the systems of the airport is crucial.

He disclosed that Thailand would like to promote the potential of Suvarnabhumi Airport for the expansion of aviation industry.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 September 2006

[sriracha john]

CTX probe finds irregularities

A source from the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) yesterday said the investigation into the purchase of CTX scanners for Suvarnabhumi Airport had uncovered evidence of irregularities.

The OAG has been investigating the purchase of CTX bomb-scanners for the airport ever since Jaruvan Maintaka returned to her post as auditor-general. She has looked into the budget for state mega-projects, including the CTX scanners.

She said on Wednesday that the OAG's investigation had moved ahead, particularly in connection with the scanners. OAG officials have identified six areas of potential wrongdoing.

However, she declined to discuss the case in detail because she has yet to turn over relevant documents to the State Audit Commission.

The OAG source said yesterday that although Jaruvan has declined to say anything specific about investigation, the OAG had in fact found irregularities and that someone would have to take responsibility for the damage.

Companies allegedly involved in the scandal included Airports of Thailand Plc, ITO Consortium, and Patriot Business Consultants.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

The draft of the third national plan for the disabled was introduced yesterday, with its main focus on empowering disabled people and enhancing a barrier-free society.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a boy cry while meeting physically challenged children and representatives from groups of the disabled at Government House yesterday.

[sriracha john]

Excerpts from:

Bangkok airport

- CNN

After 40 years in the making, the opening of Bangkok's new airport has been confirmed for 3am, September 28, with everyone from the prime minister of Thailand to industry experts hoping that the $3.7bn airport will operate smoothly.

Located 16 miles east of the city on a former swamp, the airport's impressive new terminal has been built to handle 45 million passengers annually.

With a general election looming, Thailand's prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is banking on the flagship airport being a major success. The confidence of Thailand's premier that the airport will open on time and without a hitch is not matched by all industry experts .

Despite tests and simulated check-in and security procedures, there are concerns that the airport's system are not fully ready and that the airlines that will use them have not had time to prepare.

"The key thing is to have the airport operating, commercially only when it is operationally ready," said Albert Tjoeng for the IATA.

Airports of Thailand have not consulted with the IATA, so only they know how prepared Suvarnabhumi will be.

"Being operationally ready means having undergone the required robust and comprehensive testing and trials to ensure that the various systems are working 100 percent and are seamlessly integrated. That's the key concern that we have."

- CNN

[sriracha john]

Problems for the airport seem to know no end:

Residents demand AoT tackle noise pollution

Ultimatum gives authority until Friday to come up with plan

Residents of the Rom Klao community near the new Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday issued an ultimatum to Airports of Thailand (AoT), telling it to come up with a noise pollution mitigation scheme by Friday or they would tell the world about it having done nothing to help affected communities around the airport. The residents' move came two days after King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Lat Krabang (KMITL) gave a press conference condemning AoT's mishandling of communities around the airport. According to the airport's environmental impact assessment, more than 3,000 homes, 46 schools and universities, and 76 religious centres would be affected by the noise from planes landing and taking off from the airport. Noise levels, expected to range between 65 and 80 decibels, could affect areas as far away as 18.74 sq km from the airport. Suvarnabhumi, five times the size of Don Muang airport (had never seen that stat before), would be able to receive roughly 80 flights per hour in its first year of operation. ''I don't want to live here anymore. I can't stand such loud noise. It would be unbearable,'' said Saneur Thampipatkul, a house owner in the Rom Ruedee estate.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/10Sep2006_news03.php

[Soju]

Haven't they been planning this airport for 40 years? A few of these residents may have been living there 40 years ago, but I'd bet money over 90% of the people complaining are new to the area and knew the airport was going to be built. Not to mention many of them near the airport have seen the values of their property go up. I think the airport authority should for the most part just ignore the complaints as nothing more than money grabbing attempts.

[Ricardo]

Great Humour it is huge ....but, a good number small handful of flights are already going to and from new place Domestic and International.

[Maestro]

...but, a good number of flights are already going to and from new place Domestic and International.

...are going, on a regular, perhaps daily, basis?

...or have gone, only during those two or three individual days of trial runs publicised in the newspapers?

---------------

Maestro

[PeaceBlondie]

Problems for the airport seem to know no end:......

Noise levels, expected to range between 65 and 80 decibels, could affect areas as far away as 18.74 sq km from the airport. 10Sep2006_news03.php[/url]

Does anyone else see the error? I used to live about 39 acres from Chicago's O'Hare airport, and my Honda CBR150 has 150 centimeters.

[peacemakers]

I fly out on the 8th October. it mean I now departing from the new airport ?

[sriracha john]

Sabotage suspected in airport power cuts

Caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal ordered an investigation into three electricity blackouts at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday morning which he believed were part of a coordinated attempt to derail the airport's commercial operation beginning yesterday. Airports of Thailand (AoT) also filed a complaint with police against a suspect spotted on video footage from the airport's security cameras. ''We want to know who is behind the sabotage, and what is the motive,'' Mr Pongsak said. Security at the airport would be stepped up and people entering and leaving the airport checked. The first power blackout took place at 1.02am at Thai Airways International (THAI) check-in counters, which was followed by a second at 1.08am at Bangkok Airways counters and a third at 1.10am at AIMS building. The blackout at THAI check-in counters forced staff to process passengers manually. The power outage caused the first commercial flight from Suvarnabhumi to be delayed for 30 minutes. Mr Pongsak said the airport's telephone cables laid in ventilation pipes had been sabotaged before. It disrupted the airport's communication system. ''To prevent further sabotage, it's better to have the airport operational as soon as possible,'' he said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/16Sep2006_news01.php

--------------------------------------------------------

EXTREMELY odd logic... I would think that public safety should be secured first if we have saboteurs running amok at the new airport.

[cclub75]

Mr Pongsak said the airport's telephone cables laid in ventilation pipes had been sabotaged before. It disrupted the airport's communication system. ''To prevent further sabotage, it's better to have the airport operational as soon as possible,''

Odd logic indeed.

But you know Pongsak has a gold medal in that field. He is a pure winner.

In another report, commenting the delay of the first flight, AOT managing director Chotisak "insisted it was because of passengers who had spent time taking pictures of the new airport, not because of operational problems."...

So you see, even for a very simple incident, you always have 2 or 3 differents versions, depending of which lunatic official has the mic in his hands...

Back to Pongsak, his new motto is "sabotage". You'll see that next week, he will tell us that because of sabotage threats the opening of the airport will be postponed...

It's obvious : he said "the airport's telephone cables laid in ventilation pipes had been sabotaged before. It disrupted the airport's communication system."

Why he didn't reveal this information earlier ? He would have covered his ass to explain to his boss the previous multiples delay...