Don Mueang's future up in the air
- By: Amornrat Mahitthirook
- Published: 9/01/2009 at 10:07 AM
Don Mueang's role as a commercial airport is likely to end as the Transport Ministry favours using only Suvarnabhumi under its single airport policy to foster Thailand as an aviation centre and tourism hub in Southeast Asia.
Srisuk Chandrangsu, chairman of the panel on tourism and aviation promotion, said the new policy meant Don Mueang could cease operation serving regular commercial flights.
He expected that Suvarnabhumi could become the only airport serving the capital as early as the next quarter or within this year at the latest.
The policy still needs cabinet approval.
Mr Srisuk works under Transport Minister Sopon Zarum, who on Wednesday advocated the plan to use only one airport.
The announcement reverses the policy pursued by previous governments. The government led by Gen Surayud Chulanont declared that Don Mueang would be opened to ease traffic and passenger congestion at Suvarnabhumi.
Subsequent cabinets under primer ministers Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat agreed with the policy.
Don Mueang was reopened on March 25, 2007 to relieve congestion after all flights were moved to Suvarnabhumi on Sept 28, 2006.
The reopening of Don Mueang also allowed construction flaws at the new airport to be repaired.
Currently, some Thai Airways International domestic flights and all domestic flights of Nok Air and One-Two-Go operate out of Don Mueang. THAI's main base is still Suvarnabhumi.
Mr Srisuk, a former permanent secretary for transport, dismissed the notion that passenger traffic at Suvarnabhumi had exceeded the airport's capacity to accommodate 45 million people a year.
The figure was calculated from the number of passengers when traffic at Suvarnabhumi reached its peak. The airport could manage passenger traffic better by spreading out the number of flights landing and taking off at the airport from peak hours to other periods, he said.
The three airlines at Don Mueang could move back to Suvarnabhumi without causing overcrowding, he said.
Once all airlines at Don Mueang move back to Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang would become an aviation maintenance centre and an airport serving chartered flights.
Acting Airports of Thailand president and Suvarnabhumi director Serirat Prasutanond said Suvarnabhumi could serve passengers of the airlines that would move back from Don Mueang.
How fast they moved back would depend on the airlines themselves.
Acting THAI president Narongsak Sangkhapong said the national flag carrier was willing to support Mr Srisuk's plan, adding that the single airport policy would help cut THAI's operation costs.
However, he needed to consult other airline executives about the timeframe for relocation.
But chief executive of Nok Air Patee Sarasin disagreed with the plan, saying the relocation would cost each airline 10 to 20 million baht. The low-cost airline had already borne the relocation cost twice. The first was when it moved from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi and the second time was when it moved from Suvarnabhumi back to Don Mueang.
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