AMARETTO-old
April 18th, 2006, 15:16
SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT
IATA urges Thailand to delay opening
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged Thailand to postpone the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport from around early July to December, citing problems by member airlines in entering a passenger building to set up their service systems.
More than 270 airlines hold IATA membership in 140 countries. The latest call came after the international body's meeting on April 4 and 5.
As the planned opening of the new airport is only three months away, most airlines planning to shift their operations from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi expressed concern at the gathering that only Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways had so far entered the passenger building to set up new offices.
An IATA source said the other airlines could not enter the new airport because ITO Joint Venture, the constructor, has still not handed over the project to Airports of Thailand (AoT).
Under regular procedures AoT, the agency responsible for Thai airports, must inform all airlines six months in advance of the opening of the new airport.
Large carriers need three months to prepare operation space and test service systems.
But the uncertainty over when Suvarnabhumi will be officially opened is now a prime concern for the airlines.
''There remain only three months to the July scheduled opening. This may be inadequate for airlines' preparation work. It is thus in the best interests of everyone to postpone [the opening date] to December,'' the source said.
Several airlines were unhappy with the double-airport policy, where Don Muang would be retained to cater to low-cost airlines and chartered flights, according to the same source.
They said all carriers wanted a presence in Don Muang, given its much lower landing and other fees than Suvarnabhumi.
The future of Don Muang is expected to be tabled in talks on Thursday between caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, AoT, the Department of Aviation and the Airline Operators Committee.
http://upload3.postimage.org/124781/Suvarnabhumi3.jpg (http://upload3.postimage.org/124781/photo_hosting.html)
http://upload3.postimage.org/124785/Suvarnabhumi2.jpg (http://upload3.postimage.org/124785/photo_hosting.html)
http://upload3.postimage.org/124788/SuvarnabhumiAIRPORT1.jpg (http://upload3.postimage.org/124788/photo_hosting.html)
http://upload3.postimage.org/124820/Suvarnabhumi4.jpg (http://upload3.postimage.org/124820/photo_hosting.html)
IATA urges Thailand to delay opening
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged Thailand to postpone the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport from around early July to December, citing problems by member airlines in entering a passenger building to set up their service systems.
More than 270 airlines hold IATA membership in 140 countries. The latest call came after the international body's meeting on April 4 and 5.
As the planned opening of the new airport is only three months away, most airlines planning to shift their operations from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi expressed concern at the gathering that only Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways had so far entered the passenger building to set up new offices.
An IATA source said the other airlines could not enter the new airport because ITO Joint Venture, the constructor, has still not handed over the project to Airports of Thailand (AoT).
Under regular procedures AoT, the agency responsible for Thai airports, must inform all airlines six months in advance of the opening of the new airport.
Large carriers need three months to prepare operation space and test service systems.
But the uncertainty over when Suvarnabhumi will be officially opened is now a prime concern for the airlines.
''There remain only three months to the July scheduled opening. This may be inadequate for airlines' preparation work. It is thus in the best interests of everyone to postpone [the opening date] to December,'' the source said.
Several airlines were unhappy with the double-airport policy, where Don Muang would be retained to cater to low-cost airlines and chartered flights, according to the same source.
They said all carriers wanted a presence in Don Muang, given its much lower landing and other fees than Suvarnabhumi.
The future of Don Muang is expected to be tabled in talks on Thursday between caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, AoT, the Department of Aviation and the Airline Operators Committee.
http://upload3.postimage.org/124781/Suvarnabhumi3.jpg (http://upload3.postimage.org/124781/photo_hosting.html)
http://upload3.postimage.org/124785/Suvarnabhumi2.jpg (http://upload3.postimage.org/124785/photo_hosting.html)
http://upload3.postimage.org/124788/SuvarnabhumiAIRPORT1.jpg (http://upload3.postimage.org/124788/photo_hosting.html)
http://upload3.postimage.org/124820/Suvarnabhumi4.jpg (http://upload3.postimage.org/124820/photo_hosting.html)