Budget Airlines Seek Suvarnabhumi Delay

Bangkok Post 9 July 2006:

Budget airlines seek Suvarnabhumi delay

Most don't trust Sept 28 deadline

BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA

Thailand's three budget airlines have urged the government to reschedule the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport beyond Sept 28 as they don't believe it will be ready.

Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and One-Two-Go have asked the Transport Ministry in a letter to be realistic about setting a new deadline.

''The opening date [sept 28] is too rushed. It will be beset with a lot of problems if the government insists on opening the airport prematurely on that day,'' said Sehapan Chumsai, executive vice-president for marketing of Nok Air, an affiliate of Thai Airways International.

The government would only open itself to criticism from the public and could face further embarrassment if glitches accompany the airport's opening, he said.

The three carriers say it will do no harm to have flights continue to operate out of the existing Don Muang airport, which is coping despite heavy congestion, until Suvarnabhumi is truly ready.

International carriers are also on record as being equally sceptical about the Sept 28 opening date promised by caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

''We [budget airlines] are not against moving to Suvarnabhumi, though we are comfortable remaining at Don Muang,'' Mr Sehapan said.

Among the obvious problems with Suvarnabhumi is that despite four decades of stop-and-start planning and development, a clear transport plan is still lacking.

''The general public still do not have a clue as to whether there will be public transport to the site. Worse still, many simply don't know how to get there,'' said Mr Sehapan.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents almost all of the world's airlines, warned recently that Suvarnabhumi should begin commercial operations only when it is operationally ready.

''This means having undergone the required robust and comprehensive testing and trials to ensure that the various systems are working 100% and are seamlessly integrated,'' said Albert Tjoeng, the Asia-Pacific spokesman for IATA.

''We want it to be a safe and successful opening and cost-efficient in order to be a successful hub. No one wants the cost or embarrassment of a troubled opening.''

Despite serious doubts expressed by the industry, the Transport Ministry and Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) remain committed to the Sept 28 opening.

Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, the caretaker transport minister, has been upset by reports casting doubt on the schedule, and has even gone so far as accusing the media, especially foreign news agencies that carried the reports, of having ''a hidden agenda''.

Mr Pongsak said that Suvarnabhumi managers had been running tests since Sept 29 last year, and that recent inspections showed satisfactory results.

Aviation communications were in place, including the navigation system, and facilities such as the luggage conveyor and check-in systems were completely ready for service, he added.