Suvarnabhumi Airport still set to open next week

[Samsonite 181]

From: http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=6506

 

"Bangkok's $4 billion Suvarnabhumi Airport still set to open next week despite coup

Thursday September 21, 2006

 

Except for one cancelled Emirates Hong Kong-Bangkok flight Tuesday, airline operations into and out of Thailand appear to be operating normally and without disruption despite this week's bloodless military coup.

 

Coup leader and apparent interim head of state Army Chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin said yesterday that Bangkok's long-delayed $4 billion Suvarnabhumi Airport will open next week as planned and a similar statement was offered by Airports of Thailand.

 

Limited operations at Suvarnabhumi already have started with flights this week by Thai Airways and Jetstar, while Bangkok Airways is scheduled to operate flights from the airport today.

 

The new airport, which claims to have the world's largest terminal building (563,000 sq. m.) and tallest control tower and also features a spa and bowling alley, is scheduled to be fully operational by Sept. 27, with most if not all commercial flights to Don Muang Airport ceasing by Sept. 28. However, carriers previously warned ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawarta that the new airport may not be ready for full-scale operations.

 

Airlines have expressed concern that the baggage system will have problems, and the facility failed luggage handling tests earlier this month (ATWOnline, Sept. 11). The airport has been designed to handle 45 million passengers and 3 million tons of cargo annually.

by Aaron Karp"

Edited September 21, 2006 by Samsonite