Airports Official Blasts Iata ‘conspiracy’

[Simmo]

http://www.airlinesindia.org/aviation/airl...a-conspiracy-2/

29/8/2006

Airports official blasts IATA ‘conspiracy’

A top executive of the Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has lashed out at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) spokesman for his comment on the readiness of Suvarnabhumi Airport, saying the comment was biased - and contained a hidden agenda.

AOT President Chotisak Asapaviriya added that the comment was aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Suvarnabhumi.

Albert Tjoeng, IATA spokesman in Singapore, earlier expressed skepticism that the $3.7-billion Suvarnabhumi Airport would be ready for the launch on September 28.

Indicating that it was normal to conduct test flights before the official opening, the IATA spokesman said however that the trial did not test the airport’s ability to handle heavy traffic. IATA currently represents 250 airlines.

Mr.Tjoeng’s negative comment, Mr. Chotisak said, may be related to the fierce competition in the aviation business now that many countries wanted to be the aviation hub.

Mr. Chotisak said AOT, being responsible for the operations of Suvarnabhumi Airport, has to do its best to ensure the airport’s smooth operations.

“Mr. Tjoeng was once a senior executive of Singapore’s Changi International Airport. His comment may not be neutral,” he said.

Six Thai airlines–Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Orient Thai Airways, Nok Air, Phuket Air– made 24 trial flights to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport last Saturday.

The airport is expected to replace the overcrowded Don Muang Airport and accommodate up to 45 million passengers a year.

[britmaveric]

Seems Airport officials are getting a bit arsey.

[ace]

That's called slander isn't it? Is there such a crime under international law I wonder? Could I say that AOT President Chotisak Asapaviriya is a corrupt, incompetent moron who is in the back pocket of TRT ? Perhaps the mods know

[womble]

They always acuse detractors of doing so for their own gain. They apply their logic that as someone is saying something negative about the airport they must be gaining financially out of it. Maybe they only release statements for their own gain, but others often do so in an honest manner to keep people informed.

They are an advisory body are they not?

The thing is that whilst their false statements may work on an audience that is spoon fed news through bias TV stations under close government scrutiny, it doesn't work on those in the who's job it is to consult with various sectors of the aviation industry in order to ensure smooth and safe running of the worlds skies.

[Ricardo]

Don't you just hate these independent experts, I mean , what do they know anyway ? Anybody would think they had a duty to warn, when things were looking shaky, or help suggest changes to improve safety or the chances of a smooth changeover. Plus they're probably farangs.