Authorities are trying to reschedule flights to relieve congestion at Suvarnabhumi airport as it enters the second phase of its expansion, which is expected to be completed in five years.
Passengers take a nap inside Suvarnabhumi airport while waiting for their flights. Lengthy delays have been reported after the closure of a 1.62km section of the eastern runway. SOMCHAI POOMLARD
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra discussed congestion problems at Suvarnabhumi with officials yesterday.
She said officials would try to decrease the number of day flights and increase night flights. At the moment, there are more flights in the daytime, when the airport is more vulnerable to congestion.
- EDITORIAL: Air safety no trifling matter
She ordered officials to speed up the 62-billion-baht second phase of the expansion of the airport's passenger terminal and the construction of a 13-billion-baht third runway to increase its capacity.
She also ordered greater use of Bangkok's second airport, Don Mueang, to help ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi.
Ms Yingluck has formed a working group to solve congestion at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket airports and wants it to propose solutions in two weeks.
Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) chairman ACM Sumet Phomanee heads the group and members include representatives of Thai Airways International, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Co and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board.
The prime minister said transport authorities should discuss the number of visitors entering Thailand with the Tourism Authority of Thailand so they could work out airport development plans effectively.
Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan, who attended the meeting, said the prime minister inquired about the progress of runway repairs being carried out at Suvarnabhumi.
The AoT reported a 1.62km section of the eastern runway is being repaired.
Half the repaired section is scheduled to be reopened tomorrow and the rest by the end of this month.
Mr Jarupong said the AoT must speed up paying compensation to people affected by noise from the two existing runways, or construction of the third runway project is likely to face opposition.
AoT must pay as total of 12 billion baht to residents suffering from the noise pollution.
About 60% of the recipients have received their payouts, with the remainder due by the end of next year.
Suvarnabhumi airport has the capacity to handle 76 flights an hour. However, it actually serves only 55 flights per hour because the number of flights it can operate is limited on the western runway, where heavy noise pollution annoys people in nearby residential communities.
The airport says 80% of flights use the eastern runway, to minimise impacts on residents.