In July six Thai airlines operated 20 domestic passenger flights through Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport to test its systems. Although many observers branded it a public relations exercise to detract from the fact that the opening is long overdue, operator Airports of Thailand (AOT) declared the exercise a success, saying it proved the airport will be ready to cope on opening day.
Thailand's prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who flew in on the first commercial flight, has been pushing particularly hard for a September opening and has made the airport his pet project, chairing planning meetings and publicly calling for work to be stepped up. Suvarnabhumi, 27km (17 miles) east of Bangkok, will replace Don Muang airport, which is 25km north of the city. The government last year indicated that Don Muang would remain open to handle flights by low-cost airlines, but now says some domestic flights will move to Suvarnabhumi on 15 September and all scheduled flights will operate from the new airport from 28 September.
But many in the industry have expressed concern the airport, which is also known as New Bangkok International airport will not be ready in time. "What is important is to have Suvarnabhumi airport begin commercial operations only when it is operationally ready. This means having undergone the required robust and comprehensive testing and trials to ensure that the various systems are working 100% and are seamlessly integrated," says IATA.
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| "It is important to have Suvarnabhumi airport begin operations only when it is ready" IATA |
"It is normal for trial flights to be conducted before a terminal or airport is opened. Such flights demonstrate the integrity of the procedures. However, it does not test the airport's ability to handle heavy traffic."
IATA is also concerned that there has been a "lack of effective consultations on charges", which AOT will be increasing over Don Muang.
"Airlines' views need to be taken into account and a mutually equitable agreement reached. A high priority for any airport should be efficiency and lower charges for airlines. The across-the-board increase in charges, including a 15% increase in landing and parking charges, will make Bangkok more expensive, and hence less competitive, compared with other airports in the region. Singapore, for example, has introduced discounts and incentives for airlines until 2008. AOT should follow these international best practices," says IATA.
"AOT needs to bear in mind that the increase in charges will add to the financial burden incurred by airlines in having to move to Suvarnabhumi, which is estimated to be about 3-4 billion baht [$79-106 million]."
But the six airlines that operated the first domestic flights have generally been positive about the new facility in their public comments. National carrier Thai Airways International, which operated the first commercial flight from Don Muang using a Boeing 747-400 carrying government officials, members of the public and journalists, says it believes the new airport will indeed be ready for full use on 28 September. Its president, Apinan Sumanaseni, says more test flights were planned ahead of the full opening, but "for the flight operations it is ready" now.
"Maybe there will be some small problems with service in the beginning, but we are ready," he added. ■
Source: Airline Business
