AVIATION / SUVARNABHUMI PROBLEMS

Prasert seeks speedy Don Muang decision

BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA

There is an urgent need for the government to shift all domestic air traffic to Don Muang, immediately fix all the construction flaws and build two new runways at the troubled Suvarnabhumi Airport, says a local aviation industry leader. Dr Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, chief executive of Bangkok Airways, said problems at Bangkok's new airport were reaching a critical point.

The founder of the 39-year-old privately owned carrier is the first airline executive to express grave concern over more discoveries of multiple cracks at taxiways and runways at Suvarnabhumi.

''The most serious problem to happen to an airport is cracks in runways, which have critical implications on safety for jetliners and passengers,'' he said.

''What I envisage today is that there is a good chance the cracks would spread to a wider area unless remedial actions are taken immediately.''

First, Dr Prasert advocated that the government return all domestic commercial flights to the 92-year-old Don Muang airport to alleviate traffic stress on Suvarnabhumi by 30%, and to slow the spread of cracks and subsidence of runways.

International flights, which constitute 70% of air traffic through Suvarnabhumi, should remain at the new airport, which was opened on Sept 28 amid criticisms of deficiencies and allegations of corruption.

Second, he said, officials should start building the third and fourth runways at Suvarnabhumi right away while also repairing the existing runways and taxiways.

Furthermore, they should speedily correct all the flaws such as cracks and leaking roofs in the terminal, build more toilets and install more escalators, he said.

He said Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) should spare no effort and money to revive Suvarnabhumi to regain falling confidence among the aviation industry and travellers.

''In fact, it could be an ideal solution if they could completely shut down Suvarnabhumi for repairs and additional construction. But that would create even more problems and chaos'' as a shutdown could last up to two years, he said.

The runway and taxiway cracks apparently are linked to an unproven construction technique using a soil-compacting method known as PVD rather than the conventional means of using concrete columns for foundations, he pointed out.

He warned that AoT should insist on using the standard method for building the third and fourth runways.

Dr Prasert said the new runways should be made available in the next two years, noting that a 3,600-metre runway could be built within 18 months at the cost of 10-12 billion baht.

Once the new runways and repairs are completed, all commercial flights should be go through the new airport.

Ideally, he said, any country should have one main airport, unless there is a question of capacity insufficiency, he said.

''Of course, Thailand will lose out in terms of lower air traffic and national image, but we must be brave enough to admit the flaws and correct them rather than having the world saying that our airport is unsafe,'' he said.

The problems at Suvarnabhumi have already reduced its capacity from 72 flights per hour to about 60, according to AoT.

Bangkok Airways is prepared to move its domestic flights back to Don Muang even though it would lose connections with its international services and face higher costs in running two bases.

''We have no choice but to face the same karma,'' Dr Prasert said.

The AoT board recently resolved to shift non-connecting domestic flights to Don Muang. To date only three airlines Thai Airways International, Nok Air and One-Two-Go have said they would be willing to make the move.

Thailand News : Business News
Bangkok Post
Friday January 26, 2007