Don Mueang revamp takes step forward

Don Mueang revamp takes step forward

Full-scale development of Don Mueang into a modern airport serving 27.5 million passengers is ready to move forward, following successful talks recently with 14 airlines planning to return to Don Mueang.

As part of its 10-year scheme to renovate and expand the 88-year-old airport, the Transport Ministry has decided to scrap an earlier plan to change Don Mueang into an aircraft maintenance hub and exhibition centre.

Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan said Don Mueang must first be developed to ensure that it can help relieve congestion at Suvarnabhumi airport, which is now overcrowded.

"I want Don Mueang to be the same as it used to be," said Mr Jarupong.

Don Mueang was a bustling airport in northern Bangkok before the government decided in 2006 to reroute almost all commercial air traffic to Suvarnabhumi in Samut Prakan.

The government began to take a look at Don Mueang again earlier this year after realising that Suvarnabhumi, designed for up to 45 million passengers annually, is likely to be flooded with 51 million passengers this year.

Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) said about 16.5 million passengers are expected to use Don Mueang when the 14 main budget and chartered airlines move operations from Suvarnabhumi to the old airport, starting on Oct 1.

The first phase of Don Mueang's renovation is expected to be completed by the end of this year. AoT said improved facilities will be available, including a renovated Terminal 1 for passengers and improved concourses.

The second phase of renovations, planned from 2013 to 2016, will add more concourses and aircraft parking bays to Terminal 2, allowing Don Mueang to accommodate up to 22.5 million passengers annually.

Aot estimates that the third phase, from 2017 to 2022, will further boost Don Mueang's capacity to 27.5 million passengers a year.

The final phase involves more improvements to the domestic passenger building and runways. At its peak the the airport will be able to handle up to 55 flights per hour.

With the development of Don Mueang finally worked out, the Transport Ministry inevitably needs to shelve _ or as Mr Jarupong says, "review" _ six business projects previously devised for the airport, all of which have gone before the AoT.

Besides an aircraft maintenance hub and exhibition centre, officials had envisaged Don Mueang as a regional centre for airplane spare parts; a logistics hub; a terminal for private jet passengers; and a duty-free zone for imported luxury products allied to exhibitions.

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