Call To Close Bangkok’s New Airport As Problems Mount

[sriracha john]

Call to close Bangkok’s new airport as problems mount

After a succession of delays, Bangkok’s new international Suvarnabhumi Airport opened for business on September 28. When I passed through a week later, I found several aspects of my experience disconcerting.

More serious, however, this month’s report by an official panel, appointed by the Council for National Security (CNS), has also expressed concern over a range of matters, including safety.

Chalit Phukphasuk, the committee chairman and air force chief, is quoted in Thai press reports as saying safety and noise issues prompted the panel to urge delaying the airport’s official inauguration, which was expected this month.

“There is a load of problems to be fixed. The airport will not be ready for the official opening for six months,” he said. “Since His Majesty the King will preside over the opening, it is imperative that everything is ready.”

Long waits for luggage, hold-ups at check-in counters, roof leaks and inadequate toilets were highlighted the early days of operations.

But later, uneven and cracked taxiways and parking bays were found at the airport, according to Thai reports, with the airport’s plan to close one of its two runways for four hours every night raising suspicion that it has something to do with cracks rather than noise issues.

Suvarnabhumi was a much-touted project of the deposed Thaksin administration, and there are strong suggestions in Thailand of corruption in a number of aspects of its development.

When I landed there, Bangkok, typically for time of year, was overcast, hot and steamy, so condensation formed on the windows the moment we began to taxi, obscuring details of the wavy, shell like structures and glass fronted arches of the terminal, leaving only an overall feeling of immense size.

Inside, the initial impression was that Suvarnabhumi is similar to a string of modern airports (think KL or Pudong), in that it is a cavernous place, all chrome and stainless steel and glass, exposed girders and tubing.

Signage generally was easy to follow, immigration and customs straightforward and quick, while exiting into the waiting crowd remains a case of confronting a sea of faces and greeters holding up names, with no great room to move once you clear to the back.

According to the signage there are three arrival exits, A, B and C, but there is no notification on arrivals boards that I could see as to which of these will be used by disembarking passengers.

Plenty of people were approaching and offering taxi, bus and hotel services, hard to tell authorised agents from touts, with many wearing the official-looking yellow tee-shirts which are merely a commemorative design in the King’s colour to mark 60 years of his reign.

Car rental desks are handy, with well controlled lines of public taxis on the ground floor level, express airport buses running to four different downtown destinations (www.airportexpressthai.com) for 150 baht, and seven public bus routes. But a dedicated airport rail link will not be completed until 2008.

Suvarnabhumi has four main levels, one each for arrivals and departures, with two narrower mezzanine type-floors with food outlets, book stores, forex and ATM’s, shops, offices, massage and lounge facilities. Domestic terminals and Thai Airways upper class facilities are located at the left hand end of the terminal, the end at which you arrive from the city.

My departure experience began with four lanes of traffic already shunting and maneuvering for a stopping place to unload passengers and luggage.

Inside, the whole place was a hub of noise, voices dissipating into open spaces, escalators and travelators spinning off like roller coasters, people with large luggage trolleys battling lifts that at best can only take three or four at a time.

Departure boards are quite small and flick back and forth between Thai and English very quickly.

Whether it was just that everyone and his dog was coming to sticky-beak at the new airport while seeing off friends or not, the fact is that the main economy check-in area was very crowded, to the extent that passengers could not find the end of queues which were forming well before the ribbon-controlled area.

Despite the fact that check-in and baggage handling seemed to be working with normal efficiency, it took almost 90 minutes for me to get airside (although I was 50 baht short for the 500 baht airport tax and had to divert to an ATM.) On top of this there was another 20-minute 50-metre queue for the security check to reach the gate lounge at Concourse C, another spot where everything appeared to be working normally and to capacity.

Naturally, airside had all the facilities that you would assume to be there, and in great numbers. But, as with landside, what surprised me, given that this airport is designed to handle 45 million passengers and 76 flights an hour in its initial development, how crowded everything already seemed to be.

— Alistair Smith

M.I.C.E. News Magazine, 15 December 2006

(MICE is the acronym for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events)

[Florin]

Who came up with the topic title? It has nothing to do with the report made in the mentioned article...and is a truly ridiculous idea to begin with.

According to the signage there are three arrival exits, A, B and C, but there is no notification on arrivals boards that I could see as to which of these will be used by disembarking passengers.

Either outdated or simply not true, it now clearly states the arrival exit on the board...this guy seems to have passed through there in the first week of its opening, while the article is published on December 15, what's the point?? Over 2 Months have passed since then and many issues have been worked on.

Inside, the whole place was a hub of noise, voices dissipating into open spaces, escalators and travelators spinning off like roller coasters, people with large luggage trolleys battling lifts that at best can only take three or four at a time.

I've been in over 3 dozen airports around the world and have yet to hear the sound of silence or see cavernous elevators...what exactly did this guy expect??

[alexth]

I've been in over 3 dozen airports around the world and have yet to hear the sound of silence or see cavernous elevators...what exactly did this guy expect??

Probably the guy was expecting to be dropped off in a SPA?

[sriracha john]

Who came up with the topic title?

The topic title is the exact same as the magazine article's title, so I would imagine that it was Alistair Smith who came up with the topic title.

[jumnien]

I suspect Alistair would not be the most jolly dinner guest. Can you imagine being stuck next to him on a Mandalay - Rangoon multi-day river cruise?

[sriracha john]

yet another shortcoming of the airport is the lack of concern for the disabled...particularly in light of the country hosting the 9th Asian ParaGames next year

An appalling case of neglect

There has been no shortage of complaints about the facilities at Suvarnabhumi Airport and the corrupt practices involved in building it. Much of the blame for both belongs to the politicians who ordered it to be opened for full service before it was ready. This premature birth guaranteed that the glitches that would normally plague any huge new technical operation of this complexity would be greatly increased and, sure enough, they were. The scarcity of seats and toilets, inadequate signposting and lighting, mismarked baggage conveyor belts, rampant pestering touts, arrival hall crush, taxi mismanagement, lax security, poor working conditions for immigration staff and uncontrolled noise pollution, among other things, were all so predictable they could easily have been averted by proper planning before, instead of panic measures after, the airport opened. Just observing passenger flows at Don Muang would have pinpointed obvious problem areas.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/16Dec2006_news22.php

[dwwin]

Who came up with the topic title? It has nothing to do with the report made in the mentioned article...and is a truly ridiculous idea to begin with.

Either outdated or simply not true, it now clearly states the arrival exit on the board...this guy seems to have passed through there in the first week of its opening, while the article is published on December 15, what's the point?? Over 2 Months have passed since then and many issues have been worked on.

I've been in over 3 dozen airports around the world and have yet to hear the sound of silence or see cavernous elevators...what exactly did this guy expect??

Have you even ever used it? I did, last week and all of the statements in the original article are pretty new news.

Check in: Long queue, thai staff finally arrives, check in starts...no it doesn't cos the screens suddenly change to another flight, thai staff and passangers have to move, thai staff becomes moody. I ask for an aisle seat, get the answer that there aren't anymore cos the plane is full. Bloody lie, the plane was filled to about a quarter, didn't need an aisle seat had an entire row to stretch out.

The arrangement of the escalators must hold the record of 'strangest in the world'. Toilets no need to talk about cos there aren't many. In the many airports you claim to have seen, have you ever seen a toilet on an international airport with only three urinals in it?

Noise. I agree. Lagos' airport can be noisier at times.

Arrival: The taxi mafia's gotten worse then on DM. Constant pulling on my jacket, shouted at by 3-4 guys at the same time. Took a taxi from the daparture.

I'd say pull it down. Can't even use it as a race track, much too bumpy. 

[Soju]

Who came up with the topic title? It has nothing to do with the report made in the mentioned article...and is a truly ridiculous idea to begin with.

That was the first thing I also thought of when reading it. Just another example of total garbage journalism. Can't even get a title to fit the topic being discussed. How does the author expect us to believe anything they say when they start out with such an outlandish statement in the title?

[Soju]

Check in: Long queue, thai staff finally arrives, check in starts...no it doesn't cos the screens suddenly change to another flight, thai staff and passangers have to move, thai staff becomes moody. I ask for an aisle seat, get the answer that there aren't anymore cos the plane is full. Bloody lie, the plane was filled to about a quarter, didn't need an aisle seat had an entire row to stretch out.

That sounds like an airline problem, not an airport problem, so I don't see what significance that has in this thread. Perhaps naming the airline would be useful and maybe someone else can provide some more information to confirm or offer suggestions in dealing with that particular airline.

The arrangement of the escalators must hold the record of 'strangest in the world'.

How so? The travelators or whatever they're called, that take you from one level to another are great for people with luggage carts. Elevators in all airports I've ever been to are notorious for requiring a long wait, being they are typically the only means for people with luggage carts in traversing from one level to the next. Suvaranabhumi's travelators are great in that you no longer need to use an elevator. And the escalators, are well, just that....escalators. If you've seen one escalator, you've pretty much seen them all, so have no idea about what you think is strange about them.

[dwwin]

Who came up with the topic title? It has nothing to do with the report made in the mentioned article...and is a truly ridiculous idea to begin with.

That was the first thing I also thought of when reading it. Just another example of total garbage journalism. Can't even get a title to fit the topic being discussed. How does the author expect us to believe anything they say when they start out with such an outlandish statement in the title?

Let's see how outlandish this really is. Maybe not a pull down but a major re-do for sure. Having spent most of my life on big and really big construction pro

ects I'd think that there is more than just one head spinning at high speed at the 

oment.

[dwwin]

That sounds like an airline problem, not an airport problem, so I don't see what significance that has in this thread. Perhaps naming the airline would be useful and maybe someone else can provide some more information to confirm or offer suggestions in dealing with that particular airline.

Hardly. The airline is not in charge of which counters are used.

How so? The travelators or whatever they're called, that take you from one level to another are great for people with luggage carts. Elevators in all airports I've ever been to are notorious for requiring a long wait, being they are typically the only means for people with luggage carts in traversing from one level to the next. Suvaranabhumi's travelators are great in that you no longer need to use an elevator. And the escalators, are well, just that....escalators. If you've seen one escalator, you've pretty much seen them all, so have no idea about what you think is strange about them.

Alright, I'll try again. I said arrangement. It's not so common that you have to walk a half mile from the end of one to the next. Like you said, people carry luggage and I could imagine that many have heard about the lifts getting stuck frequently and try to avoid them. B4 somebody feels the urge to jump on me, for a lift three times in a week is frequent.

[Florin]

Have you even ever used it? I did, last week and all of the statements in the original article are pretty new news.

Check in: Long queue, thai staff finally arrives, check in starts...no it doesn't cos the screens suddenly change to another flight, thai staff and passangers have to move, thai staff becomes moody. I ask for an aisle seat, get the answer that there aren't anymore cos the plane is full. Bloody lie, the plane was filled to about a quarter, didn't need an aisle seat had an entire row to stretch out.

The arrangement of the escalators must hold the record of 'strangest in the world'. Toilets no need to talk about cos there aren't many. In the many airports you claim to have seen, have you ever seen a toilet on an international airport with only three urinals in it?

Noise. I agree. Lagos' airport can be noisier at times.

Arrival: The taxi mafia's gotten worse then on DM. Constant pulling on my jacket, shouted at by 3-4 guys at the same time. Took a taxi from the daparture.

I'd say pull it down. Can't even use it as a race track, much too bumpy.

I agree that the toilets are a significant issue, which they are working on correcting. The check-in counter was also a silly glitch, but I don't think having to walk a few meters to another one is deal-breaking...It's not like this doesn't happen in any other airport. In a "First-World" country like Australia the new security regulations lead to a lot more hassle. And let's not even talk about U.K. or U.S. airports, where surely the layout of the escalators would be the least of your worries while passing through the TSA check or whatever else they have these days.

As for the long walks, OK, perhaps they could have had more travelators/escalators, etc., but in terms of luggage, let me ask you this: how much heavy lifting have you had to do? Outside of the check-in area the only luggage you should have is your carry-on, which most people would try to not make gigantic or very heavy...so how does that become a problem?

[dwwin]

My fault. I didn't make myself clear enough.

I was talking about the escalators in the front hall, there you are still with your luggage. They are arranged 'half floor wise' and for some reason very close to the lifts.

The arrangement is typical for shopping centres where they don't want you to leave quickly they want you to shop. Same at cobra swamp where you have to walk along the 'overpriced arcade' from one end of the escalator to the other. But an airport is a place where swift transportation is elementary, it's not supposed to be a hang out spot for shoppers.

My point is that after 30 or so years of planning I'd expected something more sophisticated. Those things are not build by chance.

One more word about the scumbags at the arrival. I was mentally prepared for some harassment but not for the fact that it's even worse than at DM.

[Soju]

Hardly. The airline is not in charge of which counters are used.

But in your post I was replying to, you said, "the screens suddenly change to another flight", which I assumed was another flight by the same airline. If so, I doubt it was an airport problem. If it changed to a different airline's flight, then possibly could have been an airport operational problem, but maybe not...hard to say. But you also complained of a "long queue", "thai staff finally arrives", suggesting they were late, "thai staff becomes moody", and finally lied to about the flight being full. How is the airport responsible for those issues? They're not. Those are airline issues and the personnel they hired or contracted out for.

Alright, I'll try again. I said arrangement. It's not so common that you have to walk a half mile from the end of one to the next. Like you said, people carry luggage and I could imagine that many have heard about the lifts getting stuck frequently and try to avoid them. B4 somebody feels the urge to jump on me, for a lift three times in a week is frequent.

A "half mile from the end of one to the next"? Where is this, because I don't have this problem. From stepping off one escalator to getting on the next to continue one more level it only takes a matter of maybe 20 seconds to walk back around. Maybe I'm using escalators in a different part of the building than you. Typically I use the escalators nearby to Exit A and there is no long walk in getting one to successive levels. Now if you wanted to get to the upper levels (5-7?), then, yes, you have to walk through the departure hall on level 4 to get those escalators because there is no level higher than Level 4 in the arrival section of the terminal building. I can't say that I used the escalators over near Exit C, so perhaps those are different. However, the escalators should be designed primarily with the quick movement of the majority of people in mind. It is arriving passengers who will most be using the escalators, going down to Level 1 for taxis or maybe going up to Level 4 for a connecting flight. For departing passengers, I can see them maybe dropping down to Level 3 for something to eat before checking in or before departing on their flight, then back up to Level 4. People needing to go from Level 1 to Level 4 or vice-versa should not be making up a very high percent of the escalator usage, so if there was some disjointed arrangement of the escalators in order to facilitate the quick dispersing of arriving passengers at the expense of those who are maybe just wandering around the airport waiting for their flight or an arriving passenger, then perhaps it is justifiable. Anyways, perhaps you could explain the exact location of this disjointed escalator arrangement if you wish to discuss any more what you apparently consider to be a design flaw. Just one note, are you sure that all the escalators were working when you used them? If there was an escalator undergoing maintenance, it could have accounted for your need to walk such a long ways to get the next escalator.

[dwwin]

Hardly. The airline is not in charge of which counters are used.

But in your post I was replying to, you said, "the screens suddenly change to another flight", which I assumed was another flight by the same airline. If so, I doubt it was an airport problem. If it changed to a different airline's flight, then possibly could have been an airport operational problem, but maybe not...hard to say. But you also complained of a "long queue", "thai staff finally arrives", suggesting they were late, "thai staff becomes moody", and finally lied to about the flight being full. How is the airport responsible for those issues? They're not. Those are airline issues and the personnel they hired or contracted out for.

Alright, I'll try again. I said arrangement. It's not so common that you have to walk a half mile from the end of one to the next. Like you said, people carry luggage and I could imagine that many have heard about the lifts getting stuck frequently and try to avoid them. B4 somebody feels the urge to jump on me, for a lift three times in a week is frequent.

A "half mile from the end of one to the next"? Where is this, because I don't have this problem. From stepping off one escalator to getting on the next to continue one more level it only takes a matter of maybe 20 seconds to walk back around. Maybe I'm using escalators in a different part of the building than you. Typically I use the escalators nearby to Exit A and there is no long walk in getting one to successive levels. Now if you wanted to get to the upper levels (5-7?), then, yes, you have to walk through the departure hall on level 4 to get those escalators because there is no level higher than Level 4 in the arrival section of the terminal building. I can't say that I used the escalators over near Exit C, so perhaps those are different. However, the escalators should be designed primarily with the quick movement of the majority of people in mind. It is arriving passengers who will most be using the escalators, going down to Level 1 for taxis or maybe going up to Level 4 for a connecting flight. For departing passengers, I can see them maybe dropping down to Level 3 for something to eat before checking in or before departing on their flight, then back up to Level 4. People needing to go from Level 1 to Level 4 or vice-versa should not be making up a very high percent of the escalator usage, so if there was some disjointed arrangement of the escalators in order to facilitate the quick dispersing of arriving passengers at the expense of those who are maybe just wandering around the airport waiting for their flight or an arriving passenger, then perhaps it is justifiable. Anyways, perhaps you could explain the exact location of this disjointed escalator arrangement if you wish to discuss any more what you apparently consider to be a design flaw. Just one note, are you sure that all the escalators were working when you used them? If there was an escalator undergoing maintenance, it could have accounted for your need to walk such a long ways to get the next escalator.

ok ok it was a different flight and a different airline. The thai staff complained loud enough for the passanger to hear it. Not very diplomatic. But never mind.

I only look at this structure from an engineer's point of view who's spent his whole working live on construction projects, most of them much bigger than that toy out there.

I won't need the escalators too often as I eat at home b4 I leave and need them only to get to the departure to catch a taxi.

So I should and will stop complaining now. But please do something about those scum and scambags at the arrival.

[tartempion]

I've been in over 3 dozen airports around the world and have yet to hear the sound of silence or see cavernous elevators...what exactly did this guy expect??

Probably the guy was expecting to be dropped off in a SPA?

Savanaboum is the most noisy airport I ever visited and I travelled to more than a dozen unlike a poster's experience mentionned here.

Noise pollution is notorious in this country btw: try to find an open air restaurant with no music or tv playing. Just last night I was at a restaurant near Global on the Udon Thani ring road where a guy was signing on a stage his voice amplified by a 5k wat amplifier when the waiter serving my table switched on a tv above my head , be assured this did not last for one minute.

It baffles me no one here seems to recognise the new Bangkok airport was NOT built with the traveller in mind.

Would you think one would study other airports on this planet and copy the good characteristics and implement these into the new airport. (this from a country know to copy everything invented by others?)

If any one believes Suvanabhumi will get the 2007 prize for best airport on the planet, good luck; I give it the prize for most stupid built airport ever, the list of flaws being endless.

[markuk]

i dont find it that bad, my biggest problem is the lack of seating in the airport.

[Spee]

i dont find it that bad,.

Yeah I'm inclined to agree with you. I haven't been to Singapore or KL but have been to a couple dozen major airports at many points in the northern hemisphere. Compared to all of those, new-BKK is more or less middle of the road, IMHO.

I've recently made 3 trips in and out of there, two domestic and one international.

- Yes, it does look very grey, dingy, concrete, post-modern eastern bloc in a lot of places inside, but the big open spaces are nice and on a par with a lot of places.

- Yes, the thought of only putting two dumpers and one pisser into a male restroom is pretty bad, but I never had to wait more than a couple of minutes to go.

- Yes, the crowding of the touts outside the arrival hall can be a bit oppressive, but it's no different than Don Meuang and if you walk fast and don't listen or do a few "mai ao's" then you're through it all in a minute.

- Yes the thought of having to go down one floor to get to the meter taxis is a bit goofy and the lines were a bit long a couple of times, but the people working there kept things moving and I never had to wait more than about 10 minutes.

- Yes, the 50thb airport tax is a bit much, but overall my taxi fares were approximately the same in total as from Don Meuang, if not a bit lower.

- Yes I did have to wait a bit long for my bag on the second domestic flight, but on my inbound international flight which arrived in mid-afternoon, the total time from when I stepped off the plane until I sat down on my bed in the hotel near Ploen Chit was only an hour and 15. I'll take that anywhere.

The Thai Air lounge was nice and cozy, if a bit small, although it seems to be a gathering/meeting point for some of the senior police, security and airport workers. If I'm paying extra for some of the creature comforts then I want to have quiet space and time to relax. But mai bpen rai, it is what it is.

My only real complaint was the simultaneous (and 1 hour late) departure of a domestic flight on Thai Air that also had a Bangkok Air domestic flight going out at the same gate at the same time. With other gates open right next to it, I really didn't understand the gate allocations. Having both flights fully booked meant things got a bit crowded in the waiting area.

My only real concern is how can they possibly keep it clean? It is only a few months old and there is already cobwebs and dust everywhere. The slanted glass is not really conducive to easy cleaning. I'm wondering what it is going to look like the next time I come in.

All in all, I would give new-BKK about a C+, not great but not bad, just average. But I will say one thing, after recently sitting a business class lounge at LAX for a couple of hours and having to deal with a multitude of obnoxious cell phone talkers babbling loudly in the quiet zone, and having to pay for beverages and snacks to boot, new-BKK ain't all that bad.

[sriracha john]

AoT wrong to raise fees

Given the myriad problems airlines and passengers have been facing as a result of deficiencies experienced at Suvarnabhumi Airport, it is totally unfair of the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) to proceed with the planned fee hikes. Carriers and passengers simply are not getting value for money at Bangkok's troubled new airport, and the attempt to raise landing and parking fees by 15% in April and the hefty increase in passenger service charges (PSC) in February are a rip-off.

PSC for international flights is set to go up to 700 baht per person from 500 baht at present, while the fee for domestic flights will double to 100 baht.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/03Jan2007_news24.php

[sriracha john]

But a dedicated airport rail link will not be completed until 2008.

UPDATE

RAILWAYS AIRPORT LINK

Decision due on construction contract extension this week

The State Railway is expected to decide this week how long the construction deadline of the Suvarnabhumi airport railway project should be extended. SRT deputy governor Nakhon Chantarasorn said the committee responsible for the project was examining conditions of the deadline extension for the consortium led by Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Plc (Stecon).

An SRT source said it had been expected the service would start running before December next year. To achieve this, the construction deadline should be extended from Nov 5 this year by 356 days and the contractor must work around the clock.

The SRT wanted the contractor to bear any additional cost and would retain the right to terminate the contract if it was breached during the extension. The SRT expected to make a decision this week, the source said. One condition under consideration is a May cabinet resolution that ordered state agencies to extend by 180 days the completion dates of construction projects affected by floods. Mr Nakhon said the Airport Rail Link was eligible for the 180-day extension because its route goes through Lat Krabang district, which was flooded. The committee would decide if the 180-day extension should be added to or included in the contract extension.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/21Aug2007_news03.php

[samran]

But a dedicated airport rail link will not be completed until 2008.

UPDATE

RAILWAYS AIRPORT LINK

Decision due on construction contract extension this week

The State Railway is expected to decide this week how long the construction deadline of the Suvarnabhumi airport railway project should be extended. SRT deputy governor Nakhon Chantarasorn said the committee responsible for the project was examining conditions of the deadline extension for the consortium led by Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Plc (Stecon).

An SRT source said it had been expected the service would start running before December next year. To achieve this, the construction deadline should be extended from Nov 5 this year by 356 days and the contractor must work around the clock.

The SRT wanted the contractor to bear any additional cost and would retain the right to terminate the contract if it was breached during the extension. The SRT expected to make a decision this week, the source said. One condition under consideration is a May cabinet resolution that ordered state agencies to extend by 180 days the completion dates of construction projects affected by floods. Mr Nakhon said the Airport Rail Link was eligible for the 180-day extension because its route goes through Lat Krabang district, which was flooded. The committee would decide if the 180-day extension should be added to or included in the contract extension.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/21Aug2007_news03.php

Khun Nakorn is a good bloke and a professed rail nut. Glad to hear that he is in charge of this project from the SRT side. A diamond in the SRT rough.

[sriracha john]

Railway authority to extend Airport Link construction contract

Despite criticism about the current constructor of the airport link, the Railway Authority of Thailand is likely to extend the contract with the current company.

Deputy Governor of the Railway Authority of Thailand Nakorn Jantasorn said the RAT committee has approved the extension of the construction contract for the Airport Link railway project. The route will connect the Suvarnabhumi Airport with a terminal in central Bangkok.

After carefully considering the options, the committee agreed to extend the contract with the current contractor, the B-Grimm Consolidated, for another 370 days. The extension will be come official when the Cabinet approves the deal.

The deputy governor said that the committee did not agree with a suggestion, made by NLA member Admiral Bannawit Kengrien, who leads the NLA's committee on transportation affairs. The Admiral advised the Railway authority to replace the current contractor with a new group, because they delayed construction.

The RAT deputy chief explained finding a new contractor would further postpone the construction's completion, as a selection process would have to be set up.

Moreover, the new contractor would likely absorb additional operation costs of around 8 billion baht for the delayed project. Therefore, he is afraid no other company would be interested in inheriting the burden.

Meanwhile, Admiral Bannawit said he was pleased with the progress of the Airport Link's construction, but disagreed with the board's decision to continue using the current contractor.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

Deputy rail boss must face charge

The Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) yesterday turned down a proposal by its sub-committee on the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link that a deputy governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) be exempted from charges. The fact-finding team, headed by Kaewsan Atipho, proposed that deputy governor Yutthana Thapcharoen be made a key witness in the corruption case and that he be spared the malfeasance charges the ASC would press against senior SRT officers. The ASC source said that the commitee disagreed with the sub-panel's recommendation and suggested that all officers allegedly involved in graft should face charges. The rail link, estimated to cost 26 billion baht, will run between inner Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi airport, and was initiated by the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra government.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/19Sep2007_news02.php

[lazeeboy]

I've been in over 3 dozen airports around the world and have yet to hear the sound of silence or see cavernous elevators...what exactly did this guy expect??

Probably the guy was expecting to be dropped off in a SPA?

Savanaboum is the most noisy airport I ever visited and I travelled to more than a dozen unlike a poster's experience mentionned here.

Noise pollution is notorious in this country btw: try to find an open air restaurant with no music or tv playing. Just last night I was at a restaurant near Global on the Udon Thani ring road where a guy was signing on a stage his voice amplified by a 5k wat amplifier when the waiter serving my table switched on a tv above my head , be assured this did not last for one minute.

It baffles me no one here seems to recognise the new Bangkok airport was NOT built with the traveller in mind.

Would you think one would study other airports on this planet and copy the good characteristics and implement these into the new airport. (this from a country know to copy everything invented by others?)

If any one believes Suvanabhumi will get the 2007 prize for best airport on the planet, good luck; I give it the prize for most stupid built airport ever, the list of flaws being endless.

thais love noise ,just today i had a problem in the electric company paying a bill ,had to make a call for some help ,the tv was so loud i had to go outside to hear my wife talking ,then got accussed of being in a bar ,

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Closure of New Airport at Night to Cause Huge Losses: Transport Minister

The Transport Minister states that the move to prevent airplanes from landing and taking off at the new airport from 11pm to 5am will severely affect the country's aviation as most international flights fly at night.

Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen believes that the Administrative Court will invite officials of the Airports of Thailand (AoT) to testify after locals affected by Suvarnabhumi Airport's noise pollution have filed a complaint with the Administrative Court to issue a temporary injunction to close the airport between 11pm to 5pm.

The Transport Minister is confident that the court will use its discretion when ruling over the matter as the closure of the airport during the requested time period will severely affect the country's aviation system since most international flights operate at night. Moreover, the move may prevent Suvarnabhumi Airport from becoming an aviation hub.

Thira reiterates that all concerned parties must accept the Administrative Court's ruling but urges locals affected by the airport's noise pollution to think about the negative impact that the country will face if the court grants the temporary closure.

The Transport Minister adds that the ministry will propose research and studies on measures to help affected locals to Cabinet for further consideration before the upcoming general election.

In the meantime, Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um says the state will prepare relevant information to inform the Administrative Court on the negative effects if the new airport is ordered to close at night.

He points out that the Transport Ministry has already set up a joint-committee, consisting of three concerned parties to find solutions to the problem.

Sansern admits that the Airports of Thailand has been working too slowly, causing distressed locals to file a complaint with the court.

The Deputy Transport Minister insists that people living in the NEF 40 area, where the noise from the airport has exceeded 70 decibel, will certainly receive compensation and assistance.

However, the government will later discuss measures to help locals living in NEF 30 to 40 area where the noise pollution is less than 70 decibel.

AoT President Chana Yusathaporn says the AoT's legal team will expedite a written clarification to inform the Administrative Court about the damages that will occur if Suvarnabhumi Airport is closed between 11pm and 5am.

He states that the country's economy, aviation and income will be severely affected by the possible closure of Bangkok's new airport since around 150 international flights, mostly Europe-bound, use the airport during that time.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

1,700 Bangkok Households Petition Court To Close Airport 7 Hours Daily

Bangkok, Thailand - Around 1,700 Bangkok households living near the vicinity of the Suvarnabhumi Airport have petitioned the country's Administrative Court to temporarily close the international hub at least 7 hours a day until they have moved out of the area. Other residents are still hoping the airport operators will shoulder the soundproofing expenses of those who opt to remain in their homes.

The residents' petition is to close the Bangkok airport during sleeping hours, at least from 10 pm to 5 am.

Wanchart Manathamsombut, a leader of the residents, said they resorted to filing a court case after negotiations with airport officials for compensation for home transfers or soundproofing bogged down. He estimated the cost of these two measures would amount to billions of baht, Thailand's currency.

If the court, expected to issue a decision early next week, will decide in favor of the residents', 150 long-haul flights - mainly to the U.S. - will be affected.

The Bangkok airport's complaining residential neighbors are not its only problems. Since the $3 billion gateway opened on September 2006 it has met a lot of complaints ranging from runway cracks to issues on safety and sanitation.

Because of its location, lives of residents are also at stake whenever an accident happens. On September 2, a new Airbus 380 plane hit a building and a parked bus, although no casualty was reported. The plane was backing off while preparing to fly to Chiang Mai for an air show.

- AHN

[qualtrough]

I hope that I am not the only one here that doesn't feel an ounce of sympathy for these people. The airport was planned for years and people were even warned about the noise issue to come. I truly hope they don't see one satang.

[begsaresponse]

UPDATE

Closure of New Airport at Night to Cause Huge Losses: Transport Minister

The Transport Minister states that the move to prevent airplanes from landing and taking off at the new airport from 11pm to 5am will severely affect the country's aviation as most international flights fly at night.

Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen believes that the Administrative Court will invite officials of the Airports of Thailand (AoT) to testify after locals affected by Suvarnabhumi Airport's noise pollution have filed a complaint with the Administrative Court to issue a temporary injunction to close the airport between 11pm to 5pm.

The Transport Minister is confident that the court will use its discretion when ruling over the matter as the closure of the airport during the requested time period will severely affect the country's aviation system since most international flights operate at night. Moreover, the move may prevent Suvarnabhumi Airport from becoming an aviation hub.

Thira reiterates that all concerned parties must accept the Administrative Court's ruling but urges locals affected by the airport's noise pollution to think about the negative impact that the country will face if the court grants the temporary closure.

The Transport Minister adds that the ministry will propose research and studies on measures to help affected locals to Cabinet for further consideration before the upcoming general election.

In the meantime, Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um says the state will prepare relevant information to inform the Administrative Court on the negative effects if the new airport is ordered to close at night.

He points out that the Transport Ministry has already set up a joint-committee, consisting of three concerned parties to find solutions to the problem.

Sansern admits that the Airports of Thailand has been working too slowly, causing distressed locals to file a complaint with the court.

The Deputy Transport Minister insists that people living in the NEF 40 area, where the noise from the airport has exceeded 70 decibel, will certainly receive compensation and assistance.

However, the government will later discuss measures to help locals living in NEF 30 to 40 area where the noise pollution is less than 70 decibel.

AoT President Chana Yusathaporn says the AoT's legal team will expedite a written clarification to inform the Administrative Court about the damages that will occur if Suvarnabhumi Airport is closed between 11pm and 5am.

He states that the country's economy, aviation and income will be severely affected by the possible closure of Bangkok's new airport since around 150 international flights, mostly Europe-bound, use the airport during that time.

- Thailand Outlook

So when does this come into effect?

[wileycoyote]

Anyone got updates ?

Wiley Coyote

[sriracha john]

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

Judges to check noise levels

Residents seek decision to get late flights shifted to Don Muang

A judges' quorum under the Central Administrative Court will soon conduct an inspection around Suvarnabhumi Airport to hear noise generated by aircraft engines, a community leader said yesterday.

Wanchart Manatham-sombat said the period for the on-site inspection was scheduled for between 10pm and 5am. The date for the inspection has not yet been decided.

The Court will then reach a verdict in response to the resident's petition lodged on November 21 complaining about excessive noise.

He said the judges had heard his group's complaint and the residents' request that all airliners landing and taking off between the late night period should use Don Muang airport instead.

Wanchart said his group had never asked the Airports of Thailand (AoT) to ban flights from taking off and landing at Suvarnabhumi, countering an AoT statement that doing so would cost it 2 Billion Baht a day demanded by airliners.

The petition accused several government agencies of negligence for failing to regulate noise control. It also requested both technical and administrative protective measures against the noise.

Meanwhile, King Mong-kut's Institute of Technology Lat Krabang revealed yesterday dust particles had increased in a 15km radius from the airport a year after it opened.

If no measures were implemented to tackle the growing problem, the situation could worsen in 25 years, and affect the health of nearby residents, it said.

Dr Preecha Yupapin, a lecturer from the Institute's Department of Applied Physics, said the institute and US experts had recently surveyed installed dust particle inspection devices around the airport and found an increase in the amount of particles.

The dust had increased by 0.1 per cent, which was not a dangerous level, because rainfall had cleaned the dust from the air. However, if the problem remained with no solutions, problems would occur in the next 25 years, he said.

- The Nation