Suvarnabhumi Airport

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 25, 2006, 8:26 am

3 things come to mind when reading this article!

The expressways are probably going to look like a Royal procession is involved ,as the entrances and exits will be monitored to allow the transfer of equipment between Airports!Sitting in stopped Traffic will be the order of the day!Ugggh!

Second thought is ,why has Royal approval not be granted and what is the criteria needed for Royal approval?

Third,it is good to see some practical sense applied to the situation,as to not waste valuable needed manhours involved with an opening ceremony,while so much has to be done to prepare the new airport!

Post by **beer monkey** » September 25, 2006, 8:20 pm

One more check for Suvarnabhumi readiness
[quote]
The Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) will inspect Suvarnabhumi Airport before it opens on Thursday.

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 26, 2006, 6:59 am

TAKING THE SLOW ROAD

Travellers must wait at least a year before fast rail service to Suvarnabhumi will be reality

Story by SARITDET MARUKATAT and AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Kuala Lumpur International Airport has KLIA Express. Chep Lap Kok in Hong Kong has Airport Express. But Suvarnabhumi airport will have to wait at least another year before it has direct train service. The absence of the rail link between the new airport, officially opening on Thursday in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district, to the city centre might concern air travellers who need reliable transport to carry them and their luggage to and from the terminal.

Most major airports around the world rely on rail links to serve passengers because they can move many people at the same time and reduce traffic congestion around the airport.

Kuala Lumpur's new airport, opened in 1998, uses KLIA Express to connect it with the city, taking 28 minutes to travel the 57km.

Chep Lap Kok, opened the same year 38km from Hong Kong, uses Airport Express to reach downtown in 24 minutes. Singapore has also extended its Mass Rapid Transit line to Changi Airport, Suvarnabhumi's main rival in the region.

Both KLIA and Chep Lap Kok also have check-in terminals downtown to serve passengers. Suvarnabhumi's check-in terminal is still under construction at Makkasan, the rail junction from where the Airport Link will start.

''All modern airports must use trains to carry passengers,'' said an official who did not want to be named. ''Why doesn't the country wait until the train project is completed before rushing ahead to open the new airport?''

Suvarnabhumi has an area in front of the terminal ready for the rail line, which will be above ground from Makkasan and finish at the underground airport station.

The Airport Link, to be run by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), will travel the 28km from Makkasan to Suvarnabhumi in 15 minutes using the quick Airport Express. The slower Airport City Link will travel from Phaya Thai to the airport in about 30 minutes.

The 12.2-billion-baht project, contracted to Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, is now due for completion in October next year.

The project has faced several start-up problems. The SRT could not allow access to building sites on time and the project was further delayed when inspectors found cracks in some railway foundations earlier this year.

Despite no direct train service, Airports of Thailand president Chotisak Asapaviriya is confident other forms of ground transport will be sufficient to handle passengers.

The airport can be reached by road, he said, adding access roads will also be expanded. Suvarnabhumi will be served by five roads, the best being the eight-lane Bangkok-Chon Buri Motorway, with an airport exit that will go directly to the terminal, and the Bang Na-Chon Buri elevated tollway.

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will operate a number of routes serving the airport.

''The line will take more than 200 trips a day. It will leave every five minutes and operate with greater frequency during rush hours,'' said acting BMTA director Opas Phetmunee.

The Transport Co, which oversees inter-provincial bus lines, will have 12 buses from the Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekamai and the Northern Bus Terminal at Mor Chit stopping at the airport.

The airport will have four Airport Express bus routes and the SRT will have 10 train services a day from from Rangsit to Hua Takhay, from where passengers can connect to the airport by bus

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 26, 2006, 7:00 am

Google
TRIP IS A BIT LONGER FOR PUBLIC BUS RIDERS

Only taxi passengers can bypass transport centre and go directly to airport terminal

Story by AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Passengers using public buses to get to and from Suvarnabhumi airport might feel inconvenienced by the sheer size of the new facility. With an area of 20,000 rai _ six times the size of Don Muang _ Suvarnabhumi passengers should not expect the same treatment they received at the old international airport.

Outbound air travellers going to Suvarnabhumi by private car and taxi will be allowed to access the end of the terminal. But that will not be the case for those arriving by bus.

Buses will only be allowed to drive as close as the Public Transport Centre, which has space to accommodate 262 buses, 304 limousines, 397 rental cars and 396 taxis. From there, passengers must take a free Airport Shuttle Bus to the departure floor.

For arriving passengers, the original plan of the Airports of Thailand Plc called for them to go to the transport centre and hop on a bus or grab a taxi as they do at Don Muang.

Facing complaints from potential passengers since it ran airport tests at the beginning of this month, AoT changed its plans, installing a taxi stand on the arrivals floor of the terminal, with at least 20 taxis available at all times.

Suvarnabhumi airport chief Somchai Sawasdeepon has given assurances that there will be enough vehicles on standby to serve passengers' needs.

But those taking public buses or rental cars must go to the transport centre first because parking space is limited.

The Public Transport Centre will help ease traffic problems at the airport, an AoT official said.

Passengers looking for long-term parking must go to the long-term parking area which can accommodate 4,300 cars and 78 buses. After parking, drivers must take a shuttle bus to the terminal.

Inside Suvarnabhumi, public announcements will remind passengers about flight times. ''It's a standard procedure at all modern airports,'' an AoT official said.

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 26, 2006, 7:03 am

General news >> Tuesday September 26, 2006
Google
Airlines axe flights to 'ease opening'

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Nok Air has decided to cancel all flights and Thai Airways International (THAI) has shelved four flights on Thursday to avoid problems on the first day of full operations at Suvarnabhumi airport, officials said yesterday.

Aviation Department Director-General Chaisak Angkhasuwan said the department had been informed about the budget carrier's cancellation plan and that it was to pave the way for the smooth relocation from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi.

The national flag carrier will cancel flights TG106 and 923 from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, TG107 and 115 from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, TG247 from Bangkok to Krabi, TG248 from Krabi to Bangkok, and TG140 from Bangkok to Chiang Rai and TG141 from Chiang Rai to Bangkok.

Flight Officer Apinan Sumanaseni, THAI's president, said the cancellation was to ease air traffic on Thursday.

Mr Chaisak said the THAI decision would not affect passengers because the cancellations were made in advance.

Air Force Commander-in-Chief ACM Chalit Pukkasuk, who is a deputy leader of the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM), inspected the airport yesterday and held talks with ministry, Airports of Thailand Plc and THAI officials. He expressed confidence in the airport's readiness to begin full operations.

But one airline source fretted about possible problems on the first day of operations and expected at least 100 flights to be delayed.

Udom Tantiprasongchai, founder and chairman of the One-Two-Go budget carrier, said the AoT should not immediately shut down operations at Don Muang after the last flight leaves in the early hours of Thursday. Don Muang should be reserved for use in case of emergency if problems take place in the transition, he added.

AoT president Chotisak Asapaviriya said seven pieces of luggage went missing from a Thai AirAsia flight from Suvarnabhumi to Macao on Monday because they were sent to the wrong destination

Post by **beer monkey** » September 26, 2006, 7:58 pm

Suvarnabhumi 'ready for operations'
[quote]
The Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy affirmed Suvarnabhumi Airport is 100 per cent ready for its official commercial opening on Thursday.

"Suvarnabhumi is ready and there is no need to make any last minute changes," said Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pukbhasuk, head of the Royal Thai Air Force, assigned by the CDRM to make one final inspection on the readiness of the New Bangkok International Airport.

Last minute or opening day complaints or problems should be put directly to ACM Chalit's committee.

Post by **beer monkey** » September 26, 2006, 9:28 pm

[quote]

BANGKOK: -- TOT Plc. expects a solid financial windfall from its telephone and internet services at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Post by **beer monkey** » September 27, 2006, 6:28 pm

Final farewell....

Emotional last day at Don Muang

Some tears were seen as airline employees and members of the public bid farewell to Bangkok International Airport at Don Muang Wednesday, taking photos for in remembrance of times past.

Don Muang airport ends more than 90 years service to the public Wednesday. The world's oldest continuously operated capital city airport officially will close and the international airport will be reborn as Suvarnabhumi Airport on Thursday at 3 a.m. (200 GMT Wednesday).

It is the last day Don Muang International Airport will provide services, but passengers and tourists continue to count on the airport for inbound and outbound flights as normal--at least on Wednesday.

Airline staff and the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, and others who just came to say good-bye, carried cameras to document the last hours and say farewell to a grand and gracious lady who has served millions of visitors to Thailand, and Thais departing for other destinations and destinies.

Despite the 40-year wait for the new airport, many appeared as if caught by surprise now that it is actually happening.

Many cameras were in evidence as a scramble for souvenir photos reflected an awareness that they--and the "we" of the rest of Thailand and its friends who will not see its welcoming smiles again--can no longer receive her services with a smile, because Don Muang will be open only for chartered planes and those on official duty.

Cargo services and domestic and overseas passenger flights will be officially transferred to Suvarnabhumi Airport at 3am (0300 hours) on Thursday.

However, there are still passengers at Don Muang International Airport Wednesday because it is normal working day.

Many airliners have adjusted schedules and reduced the number of flights in preparation for transferring their operations, making check-in counters less busy than usual.

Philip C. Laibee, a tourist from the United States, said what tourists will remember about Don Muang airport is the convenience they received at lower cost than other airports around the world.

What tourists expect from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Mr. Laibee said, is greater convenience they they had at Don Muang.

The American tourist said he was confident that more tourists would visit Thailand since Thai people are friendly and service costs are low.

Sureeporn Thonraya, a former employee at a duty-free shop in Don Muang International Airport, said she came to the airport Wednesday to remember the working environment where she spent so much time and to take away photos as memories.

"I'm shocked because I've been at the airport for 11 years," she said. "I'll go with my friends for a farewell party at Thai Airways International today." (TNA)

wonder if anyone gets to keep the Gold sawasdee sign on the wall after passport control. or any other souveniers.

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 28, 2006, 10:54 am

First day Blues!!

Computer glitches mar Suvarnabhumi inauguration

Passengers at Bangkok's new international airport Thursday faced delays in collecting their bags and checking in on the first full day of operations because of computer and mechanical glitches.

Thousands of passengers arriving on the first flights had to wait one hour to collect their bags as equipment was slow in arriving from the old airport, which closed during the night.

"The delay was caused by the delay of moving Thai Airways ground handling equipment from the old airport to the new one," said Chotisak Asapaviriya, president of Airports of Thailand, which operates the facility.

"It's just a minor error, and it will be the only one. We will never let this happen again," he said.

But at Thai Airways check-in counters, computers crashed before the first flights out of the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, causing delays as airline workers had to issue handwritten boarding passes and baggage claim tags.

That left long lines, but many passengers seemed prepared for delays on the first full day of operations, when some 800 flights will fly through.

"Today is the first day, so we don't expect anything to go well," said Paul Millar, a 46-year-old Briton who works in Bangkok.

"Fortunately we arrived early just in case," he said.

During Suvarnabhumi Airport's soft opening on September 15y, an airport official pulled down the wrong power breaker, causing a blackout that caused a half-hour delay in the first commercial flight from this shiny facility.

Then caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal immediately instructed Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) to take legal and harsh action against the official.

Instead of taking off at the scheduled time of 6.30am, the first flight - THAI flight TG8860 - departed for Phitsanulok 30 minutes late.

Agence France-Presse, The Nation

Post by **arjay** » September 28, 2006, 11:21 am

It's just a minor error, and it will be the only one. We will never let this happen again," he said.

Why would he say that? Are they planning to open a new airport "again" then?

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 28, 2006, 11:59 am

I think he meant that when they finish moving everything from Don Muang to the new airport,they won't screw up moving things again.Which is typically brilliant Thai response

When the glass is empty,I won't spill any more

valentine · Post by **valentine** » September 28, 2006, 2:46 pm

ITV news reporting from the new airport today are saying, some check in computers are not working and check in is being processed manually., causing delays of up to one hour for departing passengers. Pickpockets are very active in all parts of the terminal. Just announced one departing flight left over 200 bags behind because of an electrical failure. Sounds just like Don Muang.

valentine · Post by **valentine** » September 28, 2006, 3:45 pm

If any one can watch ITV its getting hillarious, for me anyway, I'm not travelling.Irate farangs are venting to the Tv cameras about missing bags, sometimes over 3 hours. Others are complaining no taxis. Apparently so many sightseers have jammed the approach roads and taxi's can't get in.
The latest is a demostration by hostesses from Thai Sky Airline, complaining they haven't received any salary since its conception last March. Evidently the whole fleet have been grounded for not having airworthy certificates on the grounds of old age. (Sounds a bit like me) Beat you to it BM.

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 28, 2006, 4:09 pm

It won't slow down the flow of ''***** mongers''

Post by **beer monkey** » September 28, 2006, 5:42 pm

[quote]

Baggage hiccups mar Bangkok airport opening

28 September 2006

BANGKOK - Thailand

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 28, 2006, 5:59 pm

[quote]Ironically, following another military coup last week, Thaksin will only be able to enjoy his pet project from his daughter

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 28, 2006, 6:02 pm

If I was going through this airport,I would carry a couple of clothing changes and grooming items in my carry on!

Post by **rickfarang** » September 28, 2006, 7:54 pm

[quote="BKKSTAN"]First day Blues!!

"...We will never let this happen again," he said.
Agence France-Presse, The Nation[quote]

Famous last words.

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 28, 2006, 8:20 pm

here is my scenerio for arriving at NBK!

Use the toilet on the airplane before getting off the plane!

Don't waste Time looking for signs to baggage,get direction from airport staff!

Carry a change of clothes and grooming items in my carry on,in case there is a problem with luggage!

If ,I want a taxi,go to arrivals,as they are allowed to pick up!

If I want a bus,take free shuttle with my luggage to the transportation center!

If I am tired ,confused and/or frustrated!Waste some bucks and check in to the NOVOTEL airport Hotel!

Whatever happens,keep a lighthearted attitude,smile and know that in a day or two,I will be home,where my complaints will be duly noted,I will be pampered and all will be well

EDITED POST TO CHANGE NAME OF HOTEL - Mod Team

Post by **Bubbagoes** » September 28, 2006, 9:43 pm

Bubba was there today, returning home from a international mini holiday. Coudn't make it out of Bkk yesterday due to the lack of prior planning and the fact that all the flights were full. Nok didn't even fly today. Forced to overnight in Bkk and have more fun.
Long trip to the new airport, particularly when you think you're going to be late.
Taxi about 275 baht, plus 40 baht toll. People standing in the line for domestic flights, unlike Don Muang that has signs for each destination Thai Air has 20 lines "to all destinations".
Media all around, filled with VIPS feeling important for each other. The computer system crashes. No lines moving.
Finally after waiting for about 25 minutes the herd all the Udon passengers to a corner and process us on a laptop.
Flight was late.
Bubba was not impressed.

Suvarnabhumi Airport

New Airport