Nine-decade-old airport reopens next month

Bangkok, Feb 21 (UNI) Bangkok's former airport will reopen for domestic flights on March 25 as the capital's six-month-old Suvarnbhumi International Airport undergoes repairs to fix construction flaws.

The Thai Cabinet has approved resumption of services at the nine-decade-old Don Muang airport with the national carrier moving domestic flights there along with three budget airlines.

A total of 77 flights to destinations within Thailand will be offered daily at Don Muang by Thai Airways International, Nok Air, PB Air and One-To-Go Airlines.

Don Muang airport was closed on 28 September 2006 to make way for Asia's newest airport Suvarnabhumi which aims to emerge as Southeast Asia's main regional air transport hub.

However, Suvarnabhumi has been troubled by controversy since the date of its opening which was seen as premature and timed with an eye on political gain by former prime minister Thaksin Shinwatra.

Critics have cited construction and planning flaws at the new airport including insufficient toilets, poor lighting and constricted passageways as evidence of widespread corruption in the mega-project.

The reopening of the Don Muang airport, cleared yesterday by the Cabinet had become a certainty after the detection of construction faults in some runways leading to partial closure.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont had earlier announced that Don Muang would also reopen for international flights but strong opposition from most international carriers including the national Thai Airways forced abandonment of the plan to have two international airports in Bangkok.

The authorities will review the resumption of service at Don Muang over a six-month period before considering its long-term future.

Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen said there was a possibility of some international flights returning to Don Muang.

This would avoid the necessity of subsequent expansion of Suvarnabhumi airport, and the two airports could together serve up to 80 million passengers annually, he said.

UNI