Fond Farewells At Don Muang International Airport

[george]

Fond farewells at Don Muang International Airport

BANGKOK: -- Some tears were seen as airline employees and members of the public bid farewell to Bangkok International Airport at Don Muang Wednesday, taking photos for in remembrance of times past.

Don Muang airport ends more than 90 years service to the public Wednesday and officially will be reborn as Suvarnabhumi Airport Thursday at 3am (0300 hours).

It is the last day Don Muang International Airport will provide services, but passengers and tourists continue to count on the airport for inbound and outbound flights as normal--at least on Wednesday--.

Airline staff and the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, and others who just came to say good-bye, carried cameras to document the last hours and say farewell to a grand and gracious lady who has served millions of visitors to Thailand, and Thais departing for other destinations and destinies.

Despite the 40-year wait for the new airport, many appeared as if caught by surprise now that it is actually happening.

Many cameras were in evidence as a scramble for souvenir photos reflected an awareness that they--and the "we" of the rest of Thailand and its friends who will not see its welcoming smiles again--can no longer receive her services with a smile, because Don Muang will be open only for chartered planes and those on official duty.

Cargo services and domestic and overseas passenger flights will be officially transferred to Suvarnabhumi Airport at 3am (0300 hours) on Thursday.

However, there are still passengers at Don Muang International Airport Wednesday because it is normal working day.

Many airliners have adjusted schedules and reduced the number of flights in preparation for transferring their operations, making check-in counters less busy than usual.

Philip C. Laibee, a tourist from the United States, said what tourists will remember about Don Muang airport is the convenience they received at lower cost than other airports around the world.

What tourists expect from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Mr. Laibee said, is greater convenience they they had at Don Muang.

The American tourist said he was confident that more tourists would visit Thailand since Thai people are friendly and service costs are low.

Sureeporn Thonraya, a former employee at a duty-free shop in Don Muang International Airport, said she came to the airport Wednesday to remember the working environment where she spent so much time and to take away photos as memories.

"I'm shocked because I've been at the airport for 11 years," she said. "I'll go with my friends for a farewell party that Thai Airways International today."

--TNA 2006-09-27

[Big A]

I suppose DM wasn't a bad ol' place after all!!

[britmaveric]

Time will tell.... might be seeing more of the old gal just yet!!

[Totster]

DM has some of the best and worst memories of my stays in Thailand..

totster

[Big A]

I suppose most falangs looked on DM as a sort of daughter.......... over these last few years, we've come to think of her as a sort of daughter. Not a favourite daughter, of course -- Lord, no! -- more of a sort of illegitimate backstairs sort of sprog, you know: a sort of spotty squit that nobody really likes. But, nonetheless, still a daughter.

(Taken from Blackadder Goes Forth)

[dai ru55]

Time will tell.... might be seeing more of the old gal just yet!!

I hope so.... as the new airport is a nightmare

[tso310]

The last plane has landed, a Kuwait A340 Manila-Kuwait. Live on TGN.

My fondest memories of DM were back in the early eighties. Got in 45 minutes early from Dhahran and then had to wait 90 minutes for my luggage to appear as the hold was full of tv, videos etc. Couldn't believe how much was cargo the DC10 had been carrying. On another occassion just about to board a flight back to Dhahran and this drunken Scotsman comes up and says "is this the Dubai flight", "no its for Saudi" I replied. Never seen anyone sober up so quick.

Edited September 27, 2006 by tso310

[kayo]

I`ve spent some of the most heart wrenching and nerve wrecking moments of my life at DM.

Once in 2003 and once in 2004.

Nothing about the airport or flying, but other reasons that i cannot mention or i`d have to kill ya.

Ciao DM. You treated me well!

Will love you long time.

[Guest RealEstateBroker]

I think if the truth were known, many many of us have had some heart wrenching

personal times at Don Muang. I sure have.

Edited September 28, 2006 by RealEstateBroker

[Backpack_thailand]

I thought DM was going to be used for domestic flights from now on...!!!

Have I missed a piece of news somewhere?

[jdinasia]

I thought DM was going to be used for domestic flights from now on...!!!

Have I missed a piece of news somewhere?

yes you have

[britmaveric]

Hmmm just got an email from the airline that they will be flying into the new airport. Guess I was wrong. Oh well I was wrong, but least I know for sure now.

[Backpack_thailand]

I thought DM was going to be used for domestic flights from now on...!!!

Have I missed a piece of news somewhere?

yes you have

Would it have killed you to elaborate a bit JD? Just had a surf on the net and it seems DM is now going to be used for Charter flights only and some of it will be a new market area similar to Chatuchak.

So there you go-go, now we know-know!