AIRPORTS / AOT BOARD MEETING TODAY

Don Muang revival to cost B66 million

Suvarnabhumi chiefs face axe over fiasco

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

The return of non-connecting domestic flights to Don Muang airport, which would require reopening one terminal, could cost Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) about 66 million baht. An AoT source said the airport authority is already working on the plan to return to the airport, although it has yet to be approved by the Transport Ministry.

The move would help relieve congestion at Suvarnabhumi airport, which is near capacity only four months after its opening. Repairs to cracked taxiways and runways at the new airport are also planned.

AoT would need to employ an additional 23 permanent staff and 151 on temporary contracts at Don Muang, the source said.

It would also have to upgrade an international terminal which now serves government aircraft.

Other costs would include buying luggage scanners and metal detectors. The building would need to be cleaned and space allocated to businesses serving passengers. Bus services to the inner city and Suvarnabhumi would also be needed.

If the plan is approved, domestic flights could be landing at Don Muang again in 45 days. With planned improvements, the Don Muang terminal will be able to serve 16 million passengers a year and should reach full capacity in 2019.

The AoT board will discuss the return to Don Muang today. Board member Tortrakul Yomnak said all domestic flights could return to Don Muang airport because Suvarnabhumi is nearly at full capacity.

''The return of domestic flights to Don Muang airport was discussed at the last meeting but there are still more details to consider,'' he said.

At its meeting on Jan 11, the AoT board agreed domestic flights without direct international connections should return to Don Muang airport. Mr Tortrakul said the Transport Ministry would have the final say.

The AoT board will also discuss cracks found on taxiways and runways at Suvarnabhumi airport and may also consider a reshuffle of top AoT management, criticised for failing to fix problems at the new airport.

AoT president Chotisak Asapaviriya and Suvarnabhumi airport director Somchai Sawasdeepol could lose their jobs.

Mr Tortrakul said a reshuffle was not on the agenda but AoT chairman Saprang Kalayanamitr could raise the issue. On Tuesday, Mr Tortrakul met Gen Saprang, Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen and his deputy to discuss management problems.

Mr Tortrakul said personnel stood in the way of solving problems at Suvarnabhumi and AoT management may have failed to respond to the board's orders.

''The personnel issue must be dealt with first,'' he said.

General News
Bangkok Post
Thursday January 25, 2007