CDRM Reaffirms Opening Of New Airport

[george]

CDRM reaffirms opening of new airport

BANGKOK: -- The Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) Sunday reaffirmed that the Suvarnabhumi Airport is going to open early Thursday as it has been scheduled before last week's successful coup, which has overthrown Thaksin Shinawatra.

However, there will no opening ceremony on that day,

"It's just that we move from the Bangkok International Airport to the Suvarnabhumi Airport. No one is going to chair a ceremony on Thursday," Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) president Chotisak Asapaviriya said Sunday.

He added that the opening ceremony for the new airport would take place only when a royal approval was given.

Chotisak was speaking after he, Transport Ministry's permanent secretary Wanchai Sarathulthat, Suvarnabhumi Airport's director Somchai Sawasdipol, and Thai Airways International president Apinan Sumanaseni called on CDRM to report on the progress at the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Located in Samut Prakan, this new airport is expected to replace the Bangkok International Airport and to become a new aviation hub in Asia.

CDRM deputy spokesman Maj-General Thawip Netniyom Sunday said CDRM has agreed to inspect the Suvarnabhumi Airport within the next few days and will also provide personnel support.

According to Chotisak, CDRM is going to provide 800 military staffs to help the Airports of Thailand (AoT) and 500 other military staffs to the Thai Airways International (THAI) for the smooth opening of the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

"The military staffs can assist us with transport of equipment from the old facilities to the new one. They can also help move luggage bags in case of emergencies," Chotisak said.

Apinan said THAI already made more than 800 trips to move equipment from the old airport to the new airport. He added that more than 1,000 trips would be made to move the equipment on Wednesday.

Somchai said he already informed CDRM of all preparations for the opening of the Suvarnahumi Airport, including when the last flight from the Bangkok International Airport would be and when the closing ceremony for the old facility would take place.

He said CDRM was also informed that the decorations for some airlines' lounges inside the Suvarnabhumi Airport were not yet completed.

"So far, THAI is going to allow these airlines to share its lounges," he said.

Civil Aviation Department's director general Chaiyasak Angsuwan said the Suvarnabhumi Airport's safety standard was in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation's requirements.

-- The Nation 2006-09-24

[yorkman]

Ohh..landing on the 28th .....

[britmaveric]

Hmmmm seems to be heaps of announcements saying it will open.... doth protest too much???

[Rinrada]

Looks like my bet on a case of Chang is safe

[sriracha john]

What are the current odds and wagers of a major air disaster occuring within the first week?

[Tony Clifton]

Can't be greater than the unforeseen and numerous logistics problems that will arise from Thaksin's constant pressure of opening earlier than needed.

[Rinrada]

Ok -OK ...half a case of Chang...alright.....

[britmaveric]

What are the current odds and wagers of a major air disaster occuring within the first week?

What are the odds at Totes?? Woops forgot gambling is prohibited in the kingdom.

[astral]

Located in Samut Prakan, this new airport is expected to replace the Bangkok International Airport and to become a new aviation hub in Asia.

Ah. Another HUB.

[Jai Dee]

CDRM deputy chief Chalit checked the readiness of Suvarnabhumi

The deputy leader of the Council of Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM), ACM Chalit Pukpasuk, inspected the readiness of Suvarnabhumi Airport prior to its official opening on September 28th.

At 15:00 hours today, ACM Chalit assessed the new airport before it will officially provide the commercial services this Thursday. He examined the operation of the Board of Developing Suvarnabhumi. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was previously the chairperson of this board. ACM Chalit checked for the defects in the past operations and looked over the work progresses.

In addition, the CDRM deputy leader had an overview of the transfers of equipments of all airlines from Bangkok Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport. The major transfers will take place on September 27th, and this would be a national agenda.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 September 2006

[john b good]

From this morning's SMH.......

Thaksin's desperate effort an empty gesture without him

Golden project or golden noose? … Suvarnabhumi Airport, which Thailand's deposed leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, made a national priority.

THE army was on the move again in Bangkok overnight, but this time there were no political repercussions.

It was part of opening a new airport without interrupting services at one of Asia's busiest regional hubs.

Thailand's deposed leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, had made Suvarnabhumi (Golden Land) Airport his pet project and a national priority. Mr Thaksin is on the other side of the world as it opens today, probably wondering if the Golden Land will become a golden noose.

Billed as the biggest airport in South-East Asia, with the world's highest air traffic control tower and the largest single terminal facility, Suvarnabhumi opened when Mr Thaksin demanded it should, but it was probably three months too soon.

The architecturally spectacular, but unfinished, airport has been plagued by construction delays and serious claims of corruption. This year it became prisoner to Thailand's turbulent politics.

In need of a good news story, Mr Thaksin pushed the Airports of Thailand Public Company to ensure the airport opened on September 28, ahead of elections due the following month.

One analyst said that in a climate of fear, no one wanted to tell Mr Thaksin it could not be done. If the overthrow of Mr Thaksin had come a few weeks earlier, the opening might have been delayed.

The Thaksin government has been implicated in a number of airport corruption scandals, and these allegations will be the early focus of the National Counter Corruption Commission, set up by coup leaders this week. The corruption claims involve the big and the small, everything from the purchase of bomb scanning equipment to access to taxis.

Initially, the taxi rank was to be located a 3 kilometre shuttle bus ride from the airport, giving well-connected limousine service operators the only front-door airport pick-up. A last-minute change means taxis will also now be able to queue close to the arrivals hall. The airlines watched as the new airport, which they welcome, became a political football. International airlines had asked for 180 days notice to arrange the move, set up networks and outfit passenger lounges - they got 92 days.

Brian Sinclair-Thompson, the president of the Board of Airlines, which represents 70 foreign carriers in Thailand, said that while he was not concerned about safety issues, he was disappointed with the decision to rush the opening.

"We wanted to give people a cutting edge experience from day one. Instead they will see shops not open, passenger lounges not completed," he said.

Bangkok authorities claim they have tested the airport's baggage-handling system at full capacity and it is working. Just in case things go wrong, two battalions of troops are on standby to manually unload baggage.

A day ahead of the opening, duty free shops were still shells, the Muslim prayer room was strewn with debris and workers were sealing floor tiles. The airport is already carrying a light load, with some airlines transferring services early.