Following meeting last week the nearly 60 international carriers who operate to and from Bangkok”s new Suvarnabhumi Airport have collectively stated that they would prefer to stay at their new home whilst urgent repairs are undertaken at the recently opened Thailand gateway.
Opened in October 2006, Suvarnabhumi was quickly criticised for cracks on the runways and taxiways resulting in a government move to transfer traffic back to the former, and now closed, Don Muang.
Yongyuth Mayalarp, a Thai government spokesman, told a press conference that the damage would not pose safety risks to aircraft taking off and landing at the new airport.
”Part of the west runway and the taxiways would be closed for repairs between two weeks and two months depending on the scale of the problem. We do not have to shut down the entire facility,” Mr Yongyuth said. Problems to the terminal building such as the roof-top lighting system and the faulty air bridges were classified as ”not critical”. Repairs were ongoing and would be completed soon, he added.
A compromise has been found which will reduce traffic during the reconstruction period. A total of 71 domestic and charter flights without international connections, operated by just three carriers ” Nok Air, One Two Go and some Thai Airways services ” will transfer back and begin flying out of Don Muang next month for a period. Decisions still have to be made as to whether the airport should continue as a commercial airline operation and a second hub for Bangkok.