Air India given green signal to operate in Thailand

Mumbai, Sep 27: Air India, India's flagship carrier got green signal from the Government of Thailand to operate its flights from September 28.

AI348, operating on the Delhi-Bangkok-Shanghai route will be the first AI flight to take-off for Shanghai at 1505 hrs on September 28, from the new international aviation hub of Bangkok.

The Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok not only measures five times the size of the existing Don Muang Bangkok International Airport, but also brings with it other record breaking features.

Covering a total area of 563,000 sq m, it is 10,000 sq m bigger than the former record holder, Hong Kong's Chep Lap Kok airport.

With an investment of 731 million Baht and standing 132.2 meters tall, the airport's new air traffic control tower has set a new world record by overtaking the former record holder Kuala Lumpur International Airport by 10 meters, a statement issued here today claimed.

The new air traffic control tower enables all air traffic controllers an optimal 360 degrees view of all operating surfaces.

Despite its height and surrounding glass panels, the control tower can resist surface winds of up to 200 km per sq m and wind speeds of 165 kph. It's special design and structure also enables it to withstand earthquakes measuring a magnitude of five on the Richter scale, the statement added.

UNI