Suvarnabhumi International Airport

[IslandHopper 0]

Just came across this bit:

Airlines skeptical of airport’s launch date

 

By Lan Anh Nguyen 16 March 2006 21:29

 

 

Despite repeated assurances from Airports of Thailand (AoT) officials that Suvarnabhumi International Airport will be operational in June, executives of international airlines said the multibillion-dollar airport is more likely to open by the end of the year.

 

Contractors have yet to complete construction work at the new airport, while systems administration still requires vigorous testing before it will be ready for the opening, said Brian Sinclair-Thompson, president of the Board of Airline Representatives, which represents nearly 60 airlines operating in Thailand.

 

“I think it is going to open by the end of this year,†said Sinclair-Thompson, who visited Suvarnabhumi recently. “My feeling is that it would take some time. There is a lot of work [that] needs to done, especially system testing, to make sure it is fully functional before the opening.â€

 

AoT officials have recently dodged questions about the opening date, saying that they are trying to ready the airport by the end of June.

 

AoT announced yesterday that a portion of the west runway would be cut and resurfaced as part of a new taxiway project connecting the first and third runways. AoT officials insisted that this has nothing to do with the alleged crack on the runway that stirred controversies about mismanagement and corruption a few months ago.

 

“We are just trying to resurface the runway to ensure smoothness between the runway and the taxiway,†said Surajit Surapolchai, AoT’s senior vice president in charge of project management. “The area is only 10 centimeters [in] length.â€

 

According to Somchai Sawasdeepon, the airport director, AoT is trying to outsource the management of various services, including airport security, cleaning, transportation and budgeting. The bidding process is likely to take more time than expected and might affect the opening.

 

“We are trying to meet the schedule and finish everything in June, but with a megaproject like this, many problems could emerge,†Somchai said.

 

Surajit said that most of the construction work would be completed by the end of this month. AoT previously said construction work would be finished by the end of 2005.

 

Meanwhile, international airlines have maintained that Thailand should conduct intensive tests and training before the airport opening to avoid the kind of systems disasters that occurred at other airports in the region like Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok.

 

“We still have a lot of concerns, a lot of issues need to be [resolved] to make sure this is a world-class airport,†Sinclair-Thompson said.

 

The airlines have insisted that Thailand start building a midfield terminal and add more contact gates at Suvarnabhumi to avoid the inevitable congestion, Sinclair-Thompson said. The airport, which will accommodate 45 million passengers a year, is supposed to solve the traffic problem at Don Muang International Airport. But airlines have warned that Suvarnabhumi will be facing traffic problems as soon as it reaches full passenger capacity at the end of this year.

 

Most foreign airlines do not welcome the plan to keep Don Muang as a supplement to Suvarnabhumi, saying this should only be a last resort. They add that both airports should collect equal fees and charges.

 

They have opposed the AoT’s plan to set Suvarnabhumi fees at levels 15-percent higher than Don Muang’s, but AoT and BAR’s members have agreed to discuss the matter.

[elef 0]

Some guess it'll be operational in september but who knows?

[Braveheart 0]

Seeing is believing. The first time I land or take off from there I'll believe it.

[JohnnyK 28]

I sat next to a guy TPE-BKK who is the on-site manager for all the glass work.

He said it will open, in his opinion, on the King's birthday in December.

This way the focus is shifted from all the BS, incompetence and corruption and everybody can smile.

BTW, he told me the contract for the exterior glass alone was US$165 mil.

[Gus 97]

Just my 10 bahts worth

I cannot see ALL international and domestic flights using Suvanabuhm (new airport ) this year, if it does fully open on the Kings Birthday, then Good Luck.

Myself I have booked a Taxi from Don Muang on 5th November

[Eneukman 1]

Some guess it'll be operational in september but who knows?

Is that September this year or September nexty year?

 

Will the new airport be handling domestic flights as well as international ones?

 

I certainly wouldn't want to be flying in or out of Thailand in the first few days after the new airport open (oops - forgot it is already open after Thaksin flew in a few months ago )

 

Alan

[Gus 97]

We ought to have a poll on when the first aircraft lands at Don Muang by mistake instead of the new airport, or the other way round.

 

A Ryanair flight (not plane)just did a similar thing in Ireland yesterday, A320 should have landed at Derry, landed at an old military airport 5 miles away.

[wallyperrier 0]

We ought to have a poll on when the first aircraft lands at Don Muang by mistake instead of the new airport, or the other way round.

and if we would be inside that aircraft, we get out, no stamp in passport, no taxi outside, no changes money, no girls to welcome us,

 

Edited March 30, 2006 by wallyperrier

[cybers1b 8]

It seems like my long ago guess that it will be around early 2007 before teh Airport can go into operation turns out to be right

 

Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi airport seven months from completion BANGKOK, March 3 (TNA) - It will take at least seven months to give the finishing touches to the Thai capital's new Suvarnabhumi airport, Deputy Transport Minister Chainant Charoensiri said Monday.

 

It is impossible for the Suvarnabhumi airport to be opened commercially in June as earlier scheduled as an added seven months is still needed for testing systems and to complete unfinished work such as furnishing about 200 shops in the passenger terminals, Gen. Chainun said.

 

In addition, the specialised heavy-duty canvas used to cover the roof needed repairing and it would take about seven months, he said.

 

Thailand celebrates several public holidays during April, he explained, saying that the work will be at full speed in May. The state-of-the-art IT connections for about 40 systems have not been completed and each system and the overall system must be tested prior to the airport's functional opening, he said.

 

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will inspect Suvarnabhumi Airport before the commercial opening, Gen. Chainant said. It is too soon to talk about the commercial opening now. (TNA)-E004

 

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=7898

 

cheers

cyber

Edited April 3, 2006 by cybers1b

[Gus 97]

Us UK guys cannot take the piss out of the Thais for the late opening of the new airport, we have the same debacle at the new Wembley Stadium, plus you Aussies can have some of the blame for that as well

[The Mook 105]

Update: story from IHT --

 

http://www.iht.com/bin/print.php?id=3497268

 

Bangkok airport experiences severe birthing pains. By Thomas Fuller, International Herald Tribune

 

From a distance it is a shimmering edifice that rises above the surrounding flatlands like a giant space pod, a prime candidate for the cover of an architecture magazine.

 

But do not look too closely. Six weeks after opening, the tarmac at Bangkok's new airport is cracked in several places, the bare concrete walls of the sprawling terminal appear unfinished and the arrival hall is chronically overcrowded.

 

These are only a few of the problems and complaints that have emerged at Suvarnabhumi airport, which after four decades of debate, planning and construction opened on Sept. 28 and was supposed to cement Bangkok's role as an air hub for the region.

 

"I hear so many complaints from my clients I don't know where to begin," said Onsuma Prompong, 38, the owner of the Tour Agency Travel Corner. "The most common are the crowding in the check-in areas, delays in check-ins and this marathon walk passengers have to endure when they're trying to reach the plane.

 

"Dirty toilets are also a big concern," she said. That is, when travelers can find a toilet.

 

see link to read article in its entirety

Edited November 12, 2006 by themook

[Samsonite 181]

I recently used the new airport and agree with the article.

While it is of some architecture interest, functionally it is fundamentally flawed.

Basically, it is a shopping mall that just happens to have an airport attached.

Arriving isn't too bad, but when departing you really notice the problems.

Bring back Don Muang!

[Eneukman 1]

I used the domestic terminal last week and found the bare metal ceilings along with the ducts that I assume carried power cables etc gave the place a very cold feeling. Once I reached the gate, it was much better though I wonder how it would feel with the Sun beating through all the glass panels in the ceiling.

 

As for the toilets, several of the taps appeared to be out of order and one was already very shaky.

 

Coming back, it was a long walk to reach the baggage collection point though I still got there before the cases started coming off. Next was the problem in finding my pre-booked taxi. In the end he came to where I was standing, which was much easier.

 

There were plenty of offers of transport to Pattaya if I hadn't had anything booked though.

 

Alan