There is only one boss that is the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company, from the chairman down, simply by spending his money elsewher

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''There is only one boss that is the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company, from the chairman down, simply by spending his money elsewhere.''

It is time THAI had a management with vision instead of the same myopic clique of self-serving, preserved geriatrics. FREQUENT FLYER MANGO Prachin Buri Suvarnabhumi's size an overlooked detail Thirty-five years of planning. Seven years of land preparation and construction. More than 120 billion baht of taxpayer money spent. A former PM trumpeted the project as Thailand's greatest achievement and the pride of the nation. Countless millions of citizens joined in the chorus in blind euphoria.

But it transpires that Suvarnabhumi airport, despite all the time and resources pumped into it, was only designed for up to 45 million passengers a year and has almost reached its capacity a mere three months after opening.

Who could possibly have been so short-sighted to commit such a blunder in the knowledge that even good old Don Muang airport was capable of accommodating up to 39 million passengers a year, only six million shy of Suvarnabhumi?

Now the venerable Airports of Thailand (AoT) considers moving certain domestic flights and no-frills airlines back to Don Muang. The AoT board has conveniently swept under the carpet the fact that these carriers originally requested to keep operating from there.

The request was of course arrogantly denied by AoT, citing that Suvarnabhumi was perfectly capable of accommodating both domestic and international traffic for many years to come.

Well, another few million baht will go down the drain to cover the expenses of moving back, not to mention the inconvenience this decision creates for travellers who have to catch connecting flights.

When I buy a new computer I make sure the storage capacity of the new hard disk exceeds my old PC. Otherwise, I could keep the useable, though aged, computer.

Suvarnabhumi a regional aviation hub? More like a national embarrassment.

Suvarnabhumi translates as ''Golden Land''. I personally think the airport at least holds true in that respect, since it has greased more than a few greedy palms over the decades. Perhaps it is time for those parties to graciously reciprocate by donating some light bulbs to replace those that have burned out in the unspeakable miles of corridors that need to be walked to reach the departure gates. THOMAS SCHMID Bangkok
Return to Don Muang

is common sense The news that Don Muang airport will reopen for non-connecting flights represents yet another common-sense decision by the present government.

Complaints by Iata that this will prevent Bangkok from becoming a regional air hub should be taken with a pinch of salt. Look at London (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) and New York (Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark).

The belated rail link to Suvarnabhumi will run to Makkasan which, as a rail centre itself for many years, can surely be connected to Don Muang if necessary.

The shortage of passenger space in the vast Suvarnabhumi airport could be eased by replacing many of the King Power Duty Free shops with passenger facilities.

The present difficulties of Suvarnabhumi spring directly from decisions by the last government. As investigations continue into the financial dealings of its leader, his family and his cronies, an old saying is brought to mind: ''Too many crooks spoil the broth.'' MIKE HAWKINS Burma will remember who were its friends How pathetic that China and Russia have blocked the UN Security Council resolution on Burma, claiming they are against interfering in the internal affairs of another country. We all know that they are really protecting something else _ their own financial interests.

Perhaps if the internal affairs of Josef Stalin's Russia and Mao Zedong's China had been interfered with, the massive loss of life that ensued under those dictators could have been averted.

When democracy comes to Burma and the country's dictators are off living in exile with their ill-gotten gains, the Burmese people will remember who their friends were and who hindered their fight for democracy. CHIANG MAI MIKE Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai has changed for the worse I come from Lampang, but moved to Chiang Mai three years ago to study. When I first came here, Chiang Mai was a quiet city, with good weather and the beautiful Lanna culture. Everything has changed.

There is heavy traffic, pollution, garbage and skyscrapers. Chiang Mai now has everything Bangkok has, including buses. Buses are unnecessary for Chiang Mai. It is not a big city and drivers stop them wherever that they want. It is dangerous.

Skyscrapers have destroyed the beautiful scenery of Wat Phra Tad Doi Suthep.

Nightlife here is dangerous. The many bars on Niman-hemin road remind me of Bangkok's Patpong road.

Chiang Mai even has terrorists who want to bomb.

It is very bad for the image of this beautiful city. The whole world will see Chiang Mai as very dangerous and unsafe. I want Chiang Mai to go back to being a lovely place with kind people. SIRINYA KEAWSITHIWONG Chiang Mai

Bangkok Post
Monday January 15, 2007