KHON KAEN — The air-conditioning system has been broken for a month at Khon Kaen airport terminal, and passengers are really unhappy about it.
Many people have been arriving at the airport with their own hand fans over the past month.
All but one air-conditioner inside the terminal have broken down. Management has been forced to open all doors to allow air outside to flow in, and to install fans inside the building.
The problem has been even worse over the past few days as temperatures soared. On Friday the mercury rose to 42°C in the northeastern province.
Inside the terminal was like being in an oven, passenger Montree Namwong complained.
Khon Kaen airport general-manager Attaya Lapmark acknowledged the problem and pointed to the ancient air-conditioning system.
The oldest set of air-conditioners was installed 15 years ago, and even the most recent was put in five years ago.
"All have broken down from being overworked in hot weather," he said, adding that only one air-conditioner still functioned.
"The airport management apologised, but staff really were doing the best they could under the present circumstances," the airport chief added.
The entire air-conditioning system will be overhauled under a 14-million-baht plan approved by the Transport Ministry. It will take about three months to complete the work, but will not start until after the Songkran holidays.
Khon Kaen airport projects itself as an international hub for the northeastern region in the future. It currently handles about 2,000 passengers a day coming and going from 32 flights.