i hear that the new airport outside Bangkok is having a lot of problems...internally adjusting as the main port of entry...and now they want to re-open the old airport again to compensate...
would the old airport do domestic flights ..or both also again..
a thank you ..to all who reply...
2007-02-18 15:11:37 · 7 answers · asked by david 2 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Thailand
Hi, since the opening of the new airport, there was no issue except for the lack of toilet facilities. However since the coup last Oct, the present authorities have been finding a lot of problems with it. The most significant problem is development of cracks on one of the 2 runways. This is being cordened off and repair works carried out.
Present authorities are also finding faults with the layout and tenancy of the stores within, and all pointing to the previous government whom they ousted as the guilty party.
Talk to re-open the old airport had been ongoing for some time but the authorities are not willing to make any firm stand or decision.
There had been a lot of accusations thrown atthe previous government, but they are unwilling to reverse any of these faults themselves.
Even the move to Don Muang, will be at airlines own expenses with no compensation from the Thai authorities. After being forced to relocate last year, no airlines want to move without the compensation. Hence the stalemate.
Even the decision to start operation in the old airport is not finalised. The PM himself had said he will take care of this airport problem himself, but there had been no direction from him yet.
So far, only domestic without international connection flights will move to the old airport. But the problem of transferring passengers from international flights to catch the domestic flights is still not resolved. So even the local operators are not keen. Many words, just no action. And the saga still continue now, as I write. The stalemate is on.
2007-02-19 17:11:34 · answer #1 · answered by peanutz 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The old airport at Don Muang was shared by the city and the RTAF. Opposite the passenger terminals across the runways is Don Muang Air Force Base. It had been co-shared for many decades. When the new airport opened it was reverted to the RTAF. Now, in light of the construction issues a Suvarnabhumi, the decision has been made (for the time being) to reopen the old airport to domestic air traffic only. If the problems at Suvarnabhumi can be remedied and fixed in short order, all operations will return to the new airport. If not, there is a chance that operations could be moved back to Don Muang. I hope that will not be necessary.
2007-02-21 11:09:20 · answer #2 · answered by Jim G 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i been flying in and out of the new airport a few times and don't see all the problems except lack of toilets. everyday you hear something different on what flights will go out of which airport. I believe in the long run that the new airport will be international and domestic while the old airport will only be domestic. need to check with your airlines before arriving things can change fast here. another fact lots of big cities have two airports so two in bkk shouldn't be that much of a problem. What we need here is a government who can take care of the problems and not worry about spy's in the sky and thakins.
2007-02-19 04:43:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many of your previous answers have stated many of the problems at the new airport, the most serious being the cracks in the taxiways and runways. It was thought that they may have to shut down Suvarnabhumi to make the repairs, now they are saying they won't have to. I think most of problems can and will be fixed, anytime you open a facility that large, you're going to have problems, it's been a huge embarssement to Thailand and I think they want to solve the problems as quickly as they can. The main reason for re-opening Don Muang is that the new airport was built to accomodate 45,000,000 passengers a year, they've already reached capacity in about 6 months of operation. There's talk of both international and domestic flights at Don Muang, but nothing's been ironed out as of now. Many big cities have more than one airport, and hopefully Bangkok can successfully operate two as well.
2007-02-20 20:58:26 · answer #4 · answered by Gerald J 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
From what you get in the news, the government is trying airlines to relocate to the old airport at Dom Maung becasue of all the problems at the new Suvarnabhumi airport. But it looks like only domestic low cost carriers have agreed to do so. The problem is that not all the low cost carriers in Thailand are doing so.
If you're using a low cost carrier to Thailand in the next few months, I hope that there's no connection needed as it's going to be confusing.
2007-02-19 03:46:00 · answer #5 · answered by KK Oz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I understand your frustration! I have heard they are going to use the old one for domestic flights. The problem with the new one is that there are some problems with security that they need to take care of among other things.
"They should've taken care of this before they opened the new airport!", you may wonder! My theory is that Thais tend to think in the present instead of the future too - are poor planners in my experience (I still love'em to death though!!). Hence, they are partially closing the new one!
They will get it right though.
2007-02-19 00:58:24 · answer #6 · answered by Enlightenme! 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, guess what, its only been like what? not even 7 months, and
poof
the new airport is...........sinking.
its so anoying....sum1 in da government used really bad sand, and HMK DID say that it was a bad place for an airport, now there are so many cracks in the tarmac, and runways, they might swich back the old airport again...........argh
2007-02-20 06:12:13 · answer #7 · answered by pitchaya. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
any capital city must have 2 airports
2007-02-21 17:23:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋