Suvarnabhumi Airport Information

Superjumbo makes 1st commercial flight to Bangkok

2009-06-02T01:24:00.000+07:00

Emirates, the world's top buyer of the Airbus A380 superjumbo, is expanding its service into Asia with the aircraft's first commercial flight to Bangkok on Monday, an airport official said.

An A380 jet, the world's largest passenger airliner, was to set down at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport with nearly 500 passengers from Dubai.

The longest luggage conveyer built will be used, along with four boarding gates, 13 check-in counters and an extra-large departure area to handle the flight, said Serirat Prasutanont, the airport's director.

Serirat said that beginning Monday, the Dubai-based carrier will operate daily A380 flights between Dubai and the Thai capital.

Emirates has ordered 58 of the aircraft, the most booked by any airline.

The airliner made its commercial debut in Asia in October 2007 with a Singapore Airlines flight between Singapore and Sydney.

An Airbus A380 made a technical trial flight from Toulouse, France, to Bangkok in December 2006.

Suvarnabhumi, which opened in September 2006, has five gates capable of receiving A380s.

Special tour packages offered to transfer passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport

2009-06-02T00:10:00.000+07:00

BANGKOK, June 1 (TNA) – Thailand’s tourism related agencies on Monday launched 15 special tour packages in the Thai capital and its environs to attract transfer passengers making stopovers of 12 hours or less at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, in an attempt to boost the country’s tourism industry.

The campaign which targets transit passenger has been jointly launched by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Airports of Thailand (AoT), the Immigration Bureau, Thai Airways International (THAI), and the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).

TAT chairman Veerasak Kowsurat said that the campaign is aimed at boosting the country’s economy and increasing local incomes.

"Transit passengers who must wait at Suvarnabhumi Airport between six and twelve hours can take a brief tour of Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. We hope that the quick first impression will encourage them to come back here for a longer stay," Mr. Veerasak said.

The TAT chairman said that the activities include Bangkok city tours focusing on cultural and historical sites such as a boat ride and a Grand Palace tour, as well as the shopping activities in downtown Bangkok.

Tourists can also opt to visit nearby Samutprakarn province to see a crocodile farm, the Ancient City (Muang Boran), and the Erawan Museum, or spend their time on golf courses or Thai traditional massages and spas, according to Mr. Veerasak.

Mr. Veerasak said that 500-baht airport fees will be exempted for transfer passengers who join selected tours, upon checking in again for their onward flights, adding that all immigration formalities will be facilitated.

The TAT chairman added that the campaign will last for two years, expecting to bring in nearly Bt200 million income.

He said an increase of the income depends on the varieties of tour packages and the inauguration of the so-call airport link, a rail service linking Suvarnabhumi Airport to downtown Bangkok, scheduled to begin operation in August. (TNA)

Airport link to open Aug 12

2009-02-13T21:54:00.000+07:00

The Airport Link from the Phaya Thai and Makkasan to Suvarnabhumi airport is set to open for passengers on Aug 12, deputy Transport Minister Sopon Zarum said on Friday.

He conceded some facilities, including the baggage carousel system, would not be ready on the opening day, but he said he needed to speed up its launch.

The luggage-loading service at Makkasan station would not be operational, so there might be some inconvenience for passengers with heavy bags.

The construction of the 28-km route is 96%-complete with delays to work at some stations and route sections due to hold-ups in land acquisitions, said SRT deputy governor Prasert Attanan.

The SRT plans to collect a fare of 150 baht from passengers taking non-stop trains while those travelling on trains that stop at every station will pay between 15 and 45 baht.

Airport Link 'แอร์พอร์ต ลิงค์' คืบหน้าแล้ว98%

2009-02-13T21:52:00.000+07:00

ผู้ สื่อข่าวรายงานว่า วันนี้ (13 ก.พ.) นายโสภณ ซารัมย์ รมว.คมนาคม เป็นประธานเปิดการทดสอบเดินรถไฟฟ้าเชื่อมสนามบินสุวรรณภูมิ (แอร์พอร์ต เรล ลิงค์) วันแรก โดยมีการทดสอบการเดินรถจากสถานีรามคำแหงถึงสถานีท่าอากาศยานสุวรรณภูมิ

นายโสภณ กล่าวว่า โครงการนี้มีความคืบหน้าแล้วกว่าร้อยละ 98 ทั้งในส่วนของโครงสร้างพื้นฐาน และระบบการเดินรถ ซึ่งจากการทดสอบเดินรถ พบว่า ระบบการเดินรถมีความพร้อมที่จะเปิดให้บริการทันตามแผนในวันที่ 12 ส.ค.นี้ อย่างไรก็ตาม หากถึงกำหนดเวลาดังกล่าวแล้ว ระบบการเช็กอินกระเป๋าสัมภาระผู้โดยสารซิตี้เช็กอิน เทอร์มินอล ที่สถานีมักกะสันยังไม่แล้วเสร็จ ก็มีนโยบายให้การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย (รฟท.) เปิดให้บริการเดินรถสำหรับผู้โดยสารไปก่อน จนกว่าระบบเช็กอินกระเป๋าจะเสร็จสมบูรณ์ จึงจะเปิดให้บริการในส่วนดังกล่าวตามมาทีหลัง พร้อมทั้งเร่งรัดให้ รฟท. จัดตั้งบริษัทลูกขึ้นมาบริหารการเดินรถไฟฟ้าแอร์พอร์ตเรลลิงค์ให้พร้อมต่อ การเปิดให้บริการตามกำหนดการดังกล่าว

ด้าน นายยุทธนา ทัพเจริญ ผู้ว่าการ รฟท. กล่าวถึงการกำหนดราคาค่าโดยสาร ว่า จากผลการศึกษาที่ รฟท. ได้ว่าจ้างศึกษาไว้ ในส่วนของขบวนรถด่วน (express way) จะจัดเก็บราคา 150 บาทต่อคน ส่วนขบวนรถ City line ที่จะจอดรับผู้โดยสารตามสถานี 6 แห่ง จะเริ่มเก็บค่าโดยสารจาก 30-50 บาท อย่างไรก็ตาม ผลการศึกษาดังกล่าวจะมีการเสนอให้กระทรวงคมนาคมพิจารณาอีกครั้ง.

Cathay Pacific adds Thai flights

2009-02-06T11:30:00.000+07:00

Despite relatively low passenger traffic because of the global economic downturn and Bangkok's airport crisis, Cathay Pacific and sister carrier Dragon Air are not cutting back on flights through Thailand.

Aaron Chan, Cathay Pacific manager for Thailand, says the group is committed to Thailand.

Instead, they decided to raise their capacities through the kingdom in the summer travel season that starts at the end of next month on optimistic anticipation of a traffic rebound. Summer is usually a low travel period.

The decision came even though their service through Bangkok is the worst performer in the Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific group's worldwide load factor that can reach highs of 80%.

Except for long holidays like Christmas and New Year and the Lunar New Year when seats are normally full, Cathay Pacific managed to fill only 50-60% of seats available through Bangkok.

Likewise, freight tonnage moved by Cathay Pacific through Bangkok plummeted by 30-40% against its load capacities as shipment requirements declined sharply.

Both passenger volume and cargo movements in the aftermath of the seizure of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport have been lower than the same period last year.

But Aaron Chan, Cathay Pacific manager for Thailand, said the group is increasing its services to reflect its commitment to Thailand, its largest station outside Hong Kong.

The group operates numerous flights to five countries through Bangkok.

Starting at the end of next month, its sister carrier Dragon Air will increase the Hong Kong-Phuket route to nine flights a week from seven.

Cathay Pacific will also add a weekly flight on the Bangkok-Delhi route, increasing its frequency to seven flights a week, but decided to reduce the frequency on Bangkok-Mumbai to three flights a week from four.

The airline's trunk route of Bangkok-Hong Kong that it has operated for 62 years will remain unchanged at five flights per day.

Cathay Pacific operates a mixed fleet of wide-body aircraft on its service through Thailand with an average of 350 seats, including the Boeing 747, 777, Airbus A330 and A340 jetliners.

The airline faces an uphill task to fill seats to Thailand as many of its inbound passengers, who constitute the bulk of passengers carried through the Thai capital, continue to perceive Thailand as a risky place and a country to avoid, because of the airport seizure.

"People still travel, but they don't choose [to travel to] Thailand, and Hong Kong people instead go to places like Japan and South Korea," he said.

Though Suvarnabhumi airport was reopened after 10 days of closure on Dec 5, the fear of being stranded at Bangkok airports by political movements continues to haunt them, albeit with less intensity.

"If you look at the load factor (so far), it does not look like it changed a lot and the deteriorating economic crisis has made it worse," he said.

David Leung, regional director for the Hong Kong Tourism Board, agreed, saying in a separate interview that the airport closure and unsettled political issues in Thailand will prove to be a major impediment to reviving traffic there.

The tagline of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's current campaign in promoting the kingdom as a value-for-money destination is only a small part of bringing back tourists, according to Mr Chan.

The bottom line is for the country to be more active in rebuilding its battered international image and reviving confidence.

Strike at Suvarnabhumi ends

2009-02-06T11:19:00.003+07:00

About 300 workers of Asia Security Management Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Loxley Group that provides aviation security service at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, gathered Thursday morning in front of the Passenger Terminal, demanding for higher bonus and welfare payments.

The workers, responsible for baggage X-ray and security inside the terminal, said earlier the company announced that those working during Dec 15-Jan 15 were entitled to additional Bt3,000 compensation. However, the company cut the compensations, they claimed.

The workers agreed to disperse after the company's management as well as officials from Airports of Thailand arrived and agreed to take their demand into consideration.

เกี่ยวกับคนงาน 300 ของบริษัท Asia Security Management จำกัด ซึ่งเป็นบริษัทย่อยของ Loxley กลุ่มที่ให้บริการการรักษาความปลอดภัยการบินที่สนามบินสุวรรณภูมิ, ชุมนุมเมื่อวันพฤหัสบดีที่ด้านหน้าของผู้โดยสาร, เพื่อต้องการเงินโบนัสและสวัสดิการ.

แรงงานดังกล่าวรับผิดชอบในการตรวจเอ็กซ์เรย์กระเป๋าและความปลอดภัยภายในสนามบินสุวรรณภูมิ
บริษัทประกาศว่าผู้ที่ทำงานในระหว่าง 15 ธ.ค. - 15 ม.ค.
มีสิทธิที่จะเพิ่มเติม 3,000 บาทชดเชย. อย่างไรก็ตามบริษัทตัดค่าตอบแทนที่พวกเขาตกลงเอาไว้

แรงงานได้เลิกการชุมนุมหลังจาก ฝ่ายจัดการขจากท่าอากาศยานแห่งประเทศไทยมาตกลงที่จะพิจารณาความต้องการของพวกเขา.

พนง.ล็อกซ์เล่ย์ที่สุวรรณภูมิประท้วงทวงโบนัส

เมื่อเวลา 08.00 น. วันนี้(5ก.พ.) ผู้สื่อข่าวรายงานว่า พนักงานของบริษัทล็อกซ์เล่ย์ ในส่วนงานเอ็กซเรย์กระเป๋าผู้โดยสารทั้งขาเข้า-ขาออก ของท่าอากาศยานนานาชาติสุวรรณภูมิ กว่า 100 คน หยุดการทำงาน และรวมตัวกันชุมนุมประท้วงขอโบนัสที่บริเวณหน้าประตูทางเข้าที่ 8 ชั้น 1 ส่งผลให้ไม่มีพนักงานดูแลการเอ็กซเรย์กระเป๋าผู้โดยสาร

โดยเงินโบนัสที่พนักงานเรียกร้อง ทางบริษัทเคยประกาศว่าถ้าพนักงานคนใดมาทำงานระหว่างวันที่ 15 ธ.ค. 51- 15 ม.ค. 52 โดยไม่เข้างานสาย ไม่ลา ไม่ขาด จะมีเงินพิเศษให้เพิ่มจากปี่ที่แล้ว แต่บริษัทกลับนำวันลา และมาสายของพนักงานปี 51 มาตัดเงินที่พนักงานจะได้รับ

กระทั่งเวลา 09.20 น. พนักงานประจำจุดตรวจกระเป๋าภายในสนามบินก็เดินทางออกมาร่วมชุมนุม ส่งผลให้เจ้าของบริษัทฯ และตัวแทนจากการท่าอากาศยานแห่งประเทศไทย ต้องออกมาเจรจากับพนักงานในเวลา 10.00 น. ที่ผ่านมา โดยยังไม่ได้ข้อยุติ.

Committee to probe THAI formed

2009-02-03T22:00:00.001+07:00

The Ministry of Transport has set up a committee to probe Thai Airways International (THAI)'s serious liquidity problem, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said on Monday.

Mr Korn said the committee will determine how much the closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports last year, fuel hedging and overall management affected the company's financial crisis. He said the purpose is not to investigate but to find the actual cause of the problem, so it can be solved quickly.

The minister said he had discussed the company's business recovery and internal management plan with Transport Minister Sopon Zarum, and the airways is likely to submit the plan to the Finance Ministry for approval within February. If approved, the ministry will seek funds to boost the company, he added.

"THAI is receiving lower number of passengers mainly due to the global economic crisis, and the company must be prepared and quickly improve its management," said Mr Korn.

He said his ministry will suggest the cabinet on Tuesday to borrow another 200 billion baht to develop and enhance state enterprises hit by the economic downturn.

Korn sets THAI agenda

2009-02-03T21:59:00.001+07:00

The Transport Ministry has launched its own investigation into the embattled Thai Airways International and how to rescue it.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, whose ministry is the major shareholder in THAI, told Transport Minister Sopon Zarum yesterday he wanted to know the airline's exact problems.

The investigation will look into the closure of Suvarnabhumi airport, fuel hedging and quality of management.

Mr Korn said THAI's management needed to improve as travellers were dropping off because of the global economic downturn.

He expected the airline's board to submit a new business plan within a month

Mr Korn also pointed to the problem of too much political interference in THAI in recent years.

"While we are THAI's major shareholder, we have a smaller management role than the supervisory ministry," he said. "This should change, but it can't be done overnight."

Long-term plans should include competing with other airlines, but care must be taken to stop government interference in the national carrier's management.

"The key question is for THAI to propose a comprehensive business plan that compares with other airlines. It needs good management, corporate governance and professionalism. It also has the right to tell politicians not to meddle with it," Mr Korn said.

The State Enterprise Policy Office and the Committee on Rehabilitation and Development of Air Transportation has accepted in principle THAI's preliminary business rehabilitation plan, the airline's acting president ACM Narongsak Sanapong said.

The complete plan will be proposed to the Transport and Finance ministries this month.

There are three stages. The first focuses on increasing cash flow, improving asset management and improving liquidity. The second covers boosting revenue, improving operational efficiency and cost management and enhancing product and service quality. The third is a long-term plan to review business transformation, organisational structure and culture.

THAI's Suvarnabhumi move 'will ease congestion'

2009-02-03T21:58:00.001+07:00

Relocating all Thai Airways International flights from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi airport will not worsen congestion at the main hub, but on the contrary improve traffic, according to the air traffic control authority.

Somchai Thean-Anant, president of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Co (Aerothai), said yesterday that THAI's plan to operate all its domestic flights bound for Bangkok only at Suvarnabhumi airport instead of landing some flights at Don Mueang would facilitate flights visiting the capital.

He added that flights arriving at Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports have route crossings, so they must circle to wait for one another.

The THAI plan to return to Suvarnabhumi airport from March 29 this year will therefore reduce route crossings and help save fuel because aircraft would not have to circle. The flight relocation would even ease traffic congestion at Suvarnabhumi, ACM Somchai said.

The Aerothai president yesterday received Transport Minister Sopon Zarum who was concerned about congestion at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The minister said Aerothai confirmed that the single-airport policy for Bangkok would cut the duration of a visiting flight by about 10 minutes. After the THAI flight relocation, Don Mueang airport would be used to promote aviation-related industries, he said.

Mr Sopon also urged Aerothai to bring down expenses and boost revenue.

ACM Somchai said the Aerothai board had already approved an operations improvement plan that should cut Aerothai's costs by up to 90 million baht, or about 10%, and increase income by about 150 million baht per month.

Aerothai will focus more on related businesses such as its services to test navigation aids in neighbouring countries.

He admitted that Bangkok's airport closures late last year and the global economic problems had led Aerothai's income to plunge by 160 million baht since last December.

In the past year, Aerothai brought in revenues of about five billion baht. ACM Somchai expects his organisation to maintain the figure this year with the improved operations plan.

Cabinet: Suvarnabhumi transit passengers need no visa

2009-02-03T21:57:00.001+07:00

Cabinet on Tuesday approved a visa exemption scheme for transit passengers through Suvarnabhumi Airport who must wait long hours to catch a connecting flight, in an attempt to boost the country's tourism industry.

Deputy spokesman Puttipong Punnakan said the Cabinet initially approved the plan to increase income from international transit passengers, by allowing them to temporarily leave the airport premises on a short visit or to shop at places near the airport without a visa.

Mr. Puttipong said Thailand welcomed a thousand of transit passengers daily, many of whom must stay at the airport for up to eight hours.

If allowed to leave the airport for a short visit to tourist attractions or nearby shopping, more income could be generated among local residents and tour operators.

It is expected that the number of tourists in Bangkok, Chachoengsao, Samut Prakan and Chonburi will increase if the plan is implemented.

"Cabinet also assigned the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Airports of Thailand and the Association of Thai Travel Agents to create interesting tour packages for transit passengers," Mr. Puttipong said.

The visa exemption scheme is aimed at boosting Thailand's tourism industry and reversing a drop in the number of foreign tourists. The number of foreign tourists has dropped by 20 per cent from the same period of last year, due to the local political turmoil and global economic slowdown. (TNA)

Emergency decree lifted

2008-12-10T08:19:00.003+07:00

Caretaker government Tuesday officially lifted a state of emergency imposed at Bangkok's airports nearly two weeks ago amid a blockade by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters.

The anti-government protesters seized control of Suvarnabhumi and Don Muaeng airports in late November, but left last week after the Constitution Court dissolved the ruling People Power party and ordered Somchai Wongsawat to step down from premiership post.

Government spokesman Nattawut Saikua said the cabinet had agreed to lift the state of emergency because "the situation which caused the declaration has eased and returned to normal."

PAD supporters occupied Suvarnabhumi airport on November 25 and blockaded Don Muaeng domestic airport the next day.

The emergency decree was imposed after the anti-government protesters refused to leave the airports and the army refused to back police to use force to disperse the protesters.

The airports reopened last week after the court dissolved three parties, including People Power party.

Thai cabinet lifts state of emergency at two Bangkok airports

2008-12-10T08:19:00.001+07:00

BANGKOK, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's caretaker Cabinet Tuesday resolved to lift the state emergency over the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang domestic airport in Bangkok.

The Suvarnabhumi airport already resumed full operation on Monday as all international flights have reopened their routes to and from the airport, which is one of the busiest air hubs in Asia, according to the airport supervising body Airports of Thailand (AOT).

All service at the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports were suspended from the night of Nov. 25 as demonstrators organized by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) sieged and occupied it for eight days in a showdown against the coalition government led by premier Somchai Wongsawat and his People Power Party (PPP).

The Somchai government then declared a state of emergency at the two airports on Nov. 27, but police took no action to forcedly disperse the demonstrators, who vowed to stay rallying there until Somchai stepped down.

The PAD later handed the airports over to the AOT after the Constitution Court ruled on Dec. 2 to disband the three ruling parties in the coalition government, including PPP, causing the step-down of Somchai, whom the PAD depicted as a proxy of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the PAD's declared enemy since 2005.

Safety Not an Issue at Upcoming Bangkok Fair

2008-12-10T08:18:00.000+07:00

The organizers of the 43rd Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair said they are working to protect the safety of visitors and provide information on the ongoing issues facing Thailand.

The organizers said they “guarantee that Challenger Hall, Impact, will still be very secured for exhibitors and visitors alike.” The fair is scheduled for The issue concerning the closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports in Bangkok has been solved, trade fair organizers said. Airports of Thailand confirm that commercial flights will resume at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The authority said all the systems will be checked before the airport resumes full operations. While the three related agencies, Airports of Thailand, the Civil Aviation Department, and the Thai Customs Department, were told to be ready to start operations.

“We understand that the situation is now resolved long before the opening of the 43rd BGJF, and we will continue to monitor the situation very closely,” Somchai Phornchindarak CEO of BGJF.

He said the situation is stable and exhibitors can do their normal business visit as usual.

Thailand offers navy airbase as substitute airport

2008-11-28T00:01:00.003+07:00

BANGKOK, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Thailand is offering its naval airbase on the eastern seaboard as an alternative for airlines after its two Bangkok airports were closed by anti-government protests, a top aviation official said on Thursday.

Aviation Department chief Chaisak Angkasuwan said he was ready to let airlines use U-Tapao, a small airport already used for some short domestic routes and international charter flights, 140 km (90 mile) southeast of Bangkok.

"If any airline wishes to land or take off from U-Tapao, send us a request and we will immediately grant it," he said.

"We are doing this to help passengers who wish to go home," he added.

A blockade by anti-government protesters at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, a major Asian air hub, entered its third day on Thursday, causing the cancellation of all flights and stranding thousands of tourists in the Thai capital.

Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) also laid siege to the old Don Muang airport, shutting the domestic hub and effectively severing air links to the city of 8 million people.

U-Tapao, a front-line base for the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, has one runway.

National carrier Thai Airways THAI.BK, which operates 140 flights a day to and from Suvarnabhumi international airport, said on Thursday it was considering using U-Tapao. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Nopporn Wong-Anan; Editing by Alan Raybould) (Bangkok newsroom, darren.schuettler@thomsonreuters.com; +66 2 637 5610))

Main Bangkok airport to be shut until at least Sat

2008-11-28T00:01:00.001+07:00

BANGKOK, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi international airport will remain closed until at least 6 p.m. (1100 GMT) on Saturday because of a siege by anti-government protesters, Thai Airways THAI.BK said on Thursday.

The airline, passing on an announcement from Airports of Thailand AOT.BK, said the capital's old Don Muang airport would be closed until 6 p.m. on Friday.

The statement did not say why these times had been chosen.

The government declared a state of emergency at the two sites on Thursday, giving the army and police special powers to clear the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters, who overran the $4 billion Suvarnabhumi site on Tuesday.

However, when a state of emergency was declared at another PAD protest site in September, the army failed to heed the order and did nothing.

Suvarnabhumi is one of Asia's biggest airports, processing as many as 125,000 people a day, 70 percent of them tourists. The airport closure has left thousands of foreigners stranded and will make a huge dent in Thailand's lucrative tourist industry. (Reporting by Ed Cropley; Editing by Alan Raybould)

Emergency Declared at Thai Airports

2008-11-27T23:59:00.000+07:00

BANGKOK — Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat declared a state of emergency at Bangkok’s two commercial airports on Thursday and instructed the police and some military units to deal with protesters occupying the facilities.

The order, announced in a nationally televised address, came after a cabinet meeting in the northern city of Chiang Mai, a location apparently chosen to avoid confrontations with protesters, who in Bangkok are occupying the prime minister’s offices as well as the airports.

“It is necessary for me to announce an emergency decree in some areas,” Mr. Somchai said. “There is no intention to harm anyone.”

He assigned police, air force and naval units to “take care” of the situation. It was unclear whether this meant they are charged with clearing protestors out of the facilities.

Amid rumors of a military coup, a government spokesman instructed troops to “stay in their barracks.”

The closure of Bangkok’s second airport early Thursday severed the last remaining commercial air links to the Thai capital. Until Wednesday, airlines were operating domestic flights out of Don Muang airport, Bangkok’s oldest airfield.

Protesters have vowed to keep the airports shut until the government steps down.

Government supporters who have formed a type of auxiliary, known as the red shirts, said they were growing impatient with the protesters. Weera Musikapong, one of the leaders of the group said in a news conference that the “best way out” of the crisis was to follow the law. “But if the government does not act today or tomorrow the red shirt group and the people must come out and do something.”

Protesters have clashed with pro-government forces on several occasions in recent months, leaving at least two people dead and dozens injured.

Thailand’s tourism minister, Weerasak Kohsurat, said the government would soon begin flying thousands of stranded tourists out of the country using military bases near the Thai capital.

Tourists would be flown by Thai Airways to Singapore or Malaysia for connecting flights, The Associated Press reported.

Government officials also said Thursday they would allow commercial airlines to use one of the military airports, U-Tapao.

Used by the United States military during the Vietnam War, U-Tapao can handle only a fraction of the daily average of 100,000 passengers who flew in and out of Suvarnabhumi International Airport last year.

U-Tapao’s terminal has the capacity to hold 400 people and the parking lot has about 100 spaces. The airport is about 120 miles from Bangkok, a two-hour drive.

The seizure of Bangkok’s airports is radical even by the standards of Thailand’s tempestuous political past. Despite frequent military coups and changes of government in past decades, the day-to-day running of Thailand’s bureaucracy had been largely unaffected until now. The airports operated with little interruption during a military coup in 2006, and unlike many of its neighbors Thailand has maintained reliable service in key areas such as electricity and health care despite political turmoil.

But with the closure of the airports this week and occupation of the prime minister’s office since August, politics is now directly interfering with many facets of life in Thailand.

The country’s foreign minister, Sompong Amornwiwat, said the government is considering postponing a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations scheduled for next month because of the political crisis, Reuters reported.

Cargo services at Suvarnabhumi airport, a major hub for Southeast Asia, have completely ceased, a major blow for Thai and foreign companies that use the country as an export base.

“The protesters have basically closed down the country,” said Ruth Banomyong, an associate professor at Thammasat Business School who is one of the region’s leading experts in logistics.

“Thailand was never considered as a very risky country,” he said. “I don’t think companies would have prepared for this.”

Thailand is well integrated into a regional network of just-in-time electronics manufacturing, where businesses keep down costs by maintaining a bare minimum of inventories. If the airports remain closed, assembly lines in Japan and China may run out of the semiconductors, disk drives and other components manufactured in Thailand.

Mr. Ruth estimates that electronics manufacturers keep around three to five days of inventory.

“This idea of Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi being a cargo hub — they can drop it down the drain now,” he said.

Thailand last year exported about $40 billion in electronics and computer components. Leading electronics manufacturing including Fujitsu, Seagate, Philips, and LG have factories in the country.

The airport closures may also prove dangerous for those in need of urgent medical care.

Neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos rely on Thailand for health care because Bangkok has some of the best hospitals in the region. The closure of the airports has shut off the urgent provision of medicines and medical machinery from abroad.

“For agriculture and electronics it’s a commercial loss,” said Voratat Tantimongkolsuk, deputy director of operations at CTI, one of the largest freight forwarders in Thailand. “But this is also about people’s lives. We import a lot of medical equipment from other countries.”

Mr. Voratat is proposing to his clients that they send their shipments by truck to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, adding about three days to the shipment time. But this route may not be viable for the most sensitive products.

Last year Suvarnabhumi airport handled import and exports averaging a total of 2,900 tons a day.

Suvarnabhumi Airport closed for security reason

2008-11-27T23:34:00.000+07:00

For security reasons, Suvarnabhumi Airport will be closed from 9pm (November 25, 2008) onwards after anti-government protesters blocked entrance of then airport.

Blasts at Bangkok airport, other sites wound seven: officials

2008-11-26T09:03:00.000+07:00

BANGKOK (AFP) — A blast at Bangkok's international airport and grenade attacks elsewhere in the city wounded at least seven people on Wednesday, as lawlessness spread amid anti-government protests, officials said.

The explosion at Suvarnabhumi Airport happened a day after demonstrators stormed the airport, forcing it to close down and stranding thousands of passengers.

"At least two people were wounded by a bomb blast at Suvarnabhumi this morning," Petpong Kamchornkitkarn, an emergency medical services official, told AFP.

Two local television stations said a grenade was fired at protesters and that three people were wounded.

A near simultaneous grenade attack on anti-government protesters picketing Bangkok's old Don Mueang airport, where the prime minister has set up temporary offices, wounded two more people, Petpong said.

Another three people were wounded when two grenades were tossed into a crowd of pro-government supporters on a road to Don Mueang, the site of a clash between rival activists that left 11 hurt on Tuesday, police said.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat moved to premises at Don Mueang after demonstrators occupied the government's main offices in central Bangkok in August.

The People's Alliance for Democracy, a protest movement, has led a six-month street campaign against the democratically elected government.

Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport closed

2008-11-26T09:01:00.001+07:00

The Airports of Thailand has decided to close the Suvarnabhumi airport after PAD protesters entered passenger terminals and scuffled with airport officials.

The closure, ordered around 9 pm, involved stopping out-bound flights. In-bound planes were still being allowed to land Tuesday night, but can be diverted to key provincial airports if situations deteriorated.

The order was issued by AOT chief Serirat Prasutanont. He made the decision out of safety concern after PAD protesters penetrated some passenger areas.

"The PAD members are now scattered around. I don't know who's who, or who's PAD and who's not," a senior AOT official told The Nation at around 10.30 pm.

How long the closure will last is not known.

The People's Alliance for Democracy threatened earlier Tuesday night to close down the Suvanabhumi Airport completely after several thousand PAD protesteers blocked an entrance earlier in the day and caused turmoil for numerous passengers.

As PAD protesters moved to surround Suvarnabhumi Airport in the afternoon when the plane carrying Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was scheduled to land, the arrival of his plane from Peru was announced to have been delayed due to technical problems.

The estimated time of arrival has not been confirmed. Some sources said he could be arriving Wednesday evening.

"We have tried to pressure the government for more than 50 hours but nothing has happened, so we need to step up our campaign by closing the airport to tell the world problems Thailand is facing," said PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul at Government House Tuesday night.

Before the closure order, the Airports of Thailand was Tuesday night mobilizing its officials to Suvarnabhumi to make sure no key operations will be disrupted. Travellers still can access the terminals through Bang Na -Trad highway, but the motory-way entrance has been crowded with protesters.

Many travellers have already suffered inconvenience. Arrival passengers were stranded Tuesday night and the AOT officials were trying to facilitate their transport out of the airport. AOT has also issued a statement pleading with the PAD.

AOT also has provided a hotline number for inquiries: 02-1321882 02-1321888

However, an AOT official said the lines soon became jammed.

It was a big political gamble by the PAD, which has seen its support declining lately because of controversial, provocative moves. Its die-hard following, however, has been galvanised by deaths and injuries of PAD members since October 7, when police fired tear gas at protesters marching to Parliament.

Somchai's plane failed to take off from Lima, Peru where he attended the APEC summit after the hydraulic lock of the plane's wheels failed to unlock.

The technical repair was first expected to make Somchai's flight eight hours behind the schedule, making Somchai's arrival time to be around 7 pm.

It was later reported that the repair work would be finished sooner so Somchai would arrive at 5pm.

Somchai was scheduled to arrive in Bangkok at around noon on Wednesday. He is now expected to arrive at 7pm instead.

The Public Relations Department said its reporter, Saksit Pradabsilp, reported from Peru that a hydraulic lock of the plane's wheel would not unlock, thus, preventing the plane from taking off.

While PAD Tuesday split in groups and stage a rally to block a Cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, as caretaker prime minister, still man?aged to have a meeting with Interior Minister Kowit Watana and PM's Office Minister Supon Fongngam at the Public Relations Department headquarters at 9.30 am.

Police and military representatives also attend?ed the meeting.

Chaovarat said after the meeting that the police had assured they could handle the situation. They would be patient and would not use violence.

Moreover, they would ask PAD to vacate the government's temporary office at Don Mueang Airport but would not "seize/ take back" the office, otherwise, bloodshed could erupt.

Chaovarat said he would leave it to Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to talk to the PAD leaders himself.

They were looking for a new place to hold the Cabinet meeting when the PAD blocked the Supreme Command headquarters, he said.

Meanwhile, a source who joined the meeting and asked not to be named, said police had told Chaovarat they would be able to control the situation as PAD protesters mainly demonstrated at Government House and Don Mueang Airport. Being left to rally as they wanted, demonstrators are likely to be exhausted on Wednesday with half of them likely to leave the rally.

Security agencies would then wait until only a few protesters were left before taking action, the source said.

Somchai's delayed arrival could be the reason for the cancellation of the scheduled Cabinet meeting, the source said.

Culture Minister Worawat Uaapinyakul said PAD should care more about the country and stop besieging government agencies' offices as it would hurt the country. PAD's attempt was just power struggle, he said.

"The (PAD's) behaviours are like bandits'. They are unacceptable. Why don't they respect democracy or listen to people's voice? Investors are with?drawing nowadays as they don't know what is happening in Thailand," Worawat said.

The government has been forced not to use its power, Worawat said. However, it would continue working according to the democratic system. However, it would have to discuss where its office would be.

He said the Cabinet would be able to use many other places as its office. However, the military should protect its dignity by not allowing PAD to siege government offices.

Worawat said he would propose to Somchai to set up an office in Chiangmai as the people there would welcome the government.

A government source, who asked not to be named, said the Secretariat of the Prime Minister had not prepared any office to replace the Don Mueang Airport as it needed to discuss the issue with the premier first.

The source said it was time the prime minister exercised the law against the PAD. Otherwise, PAD would lay siege to any government offices.

Departing flights canceled as protesters swarm Bangkok airport

2008-11-26T08:59:00.000+07:00

If you are flying out of Bangkok, beware that anti-government demonstrators swarmed Suvarnabhumi International Airport and halted departing flights today at Thailand’s primary airport, the Associated Press reports.

“For the safety of passengers, we have to stop flights out of the airport temporarily until the situation returns to normal,” airport manager Serirat Prasutanon said in a statement to the AP. He noted that incoming flights were still operating.

Demonstrators, identified as the People’s Alliance for Democracy, are seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his cabinet.

“Political tensions that have been simmering since 2006, when a similar protest campaign against then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra — accused of corruption and abuse of power — led to him being deposed by a military coup,” the AP report said.

It was unknown exactly how many flights had been canceled, according to the airport manager. Thai Airways said 18 flights had been canceled and stranded hundreds of passengers.

–Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times staff writer

Taxis at Suvarnabhumi Airport a tourist turn-off

2008-11-13T22:36:00.000+07:00

By Veena Thupkrajae

One could blame the global economic recession or point the finger at the political mess for the decline in tourism, but actually one needs look no further than the arrival hall at Suvarnabhumi Airport to see what really turns off most tourists.

Yes, I'm talking about airport taxis.

Bring this topic up the next time you're having a conversation and see if it ever comes to an end.

Somebody in your group will have either been bombarded by an illegal front-man or woman for a taxi mafia; experienced a driver who refuses to use the metre or been dumped when the driver finds a passenger headed for Pattaya or another destination for which they can get a handsome fare.

Even getting a taxi from an official stand does not ensure good service.

"I get harassed all the way home by the taxi-driver, who is invariably angry that I am not going to a destination that is far away from the airport. The driver keeps complaining about having to wait a long time for one passenger," a female traveller wrote recently on the mthai.com discussion board.

So do we need to turn to the Airports of Thailand (AOT) for a solution?

Probably not, because AOT's official Bt50 (S$2.10) surcharge for each taxi was never enough for the time they had to spend waiting for passengers.

In March 2006, when around 1,000 taxi-drivers gathered and blockaded the airport to protest against competition from "ghost taxis", AOT management promised to crack down on illegal vehicles.

Somchai Sawasphol, then AOT director, told legal cabbies that they would not have to wait too long for passengers once AOT got rid of all the illegal operators.

That promise was made in March 2006, and yet nothing has been done.

This "small" problem annoys anyone and seriously turns off first-time visitors.

Yet the government and the airport authorities are doing little to help.

The authorities seem to be all deaf or blind or have serious short-term memory problems, as they have been reminded of this problem over and over again. The latest reminder was on Channel 3's "Three-Dimension News", which aired a scoop on the airport taxi mafia.

Sadly, transportation at Suvarnabhumi is deteriorating speedily just two years after the airport's inauguration in 2006.

What's worse is that the airport's sheer size is a blessing for the illegal, paai dam or "black-plate" taxis, who can lie in wait for their victims anywhere in the terminal without getting caught.

According a local media estimation, there are more than 10 groups of illegal operators, and if one of them employs 10 "front" staff, there are 100 of these taxi-hunters wandering around the airport. My instincts say there are bound to be more.

What I can't understand is why the legal limousine-operators just stand there and "politely" witness illegal taxi/limousine-operators stalking passengers, especially foreigners.

Of course, I agree that the THAI limousine fare is a rip-off and gives illegal operators a chance to offer better, cheaper deals. However, paying a little bit more would at least guarantee one's safety, especially if one is female and travelling late.

Foreigners may consider a Bt2,000-ride (S$84) to Pattaya cheap and convenient, but they need to keep an eye out for tricks employed by the driver to make more. One of the tricks is to charge extra for the toll fee or to take male passengers to a massage parlour in exchange for commission.

Now, AOT can either consider this a "national" problem or a "personal" problem, but it can't avoid the responsibility.

Every time someone mentions the problem, we hear: "Powerful people are behind this, and nobody can solve the problem."

Unfortunately, there are no specific laws to punish these illegal operators and they have "insider" knowledge of how to get away with it, or so say the airport guards.

The police station in the area believes that cracking down on illegal vehicles around Suvarnabhumi is not its responsibility.

So what can one do to stop this embarrassing impression visitors get of Thailand?

Maybe the AOT director and top management should pretend playing tourist and take a tour around the arrival hall? Maybe then they will see for themselves what the problem really is.

What is the point of having the tallest control tower and being the world's third largest airport terminal when you can't manage it properly?

Visitors are not interested in the architecture or how impressive a building looks; they are more interested in how they are treated.

No wonder tourists are fleeing Thailand.

This article was first published in The Nation on Nov 1, 2008.

British Airways World Cargo opens sales office in Thailand

2008-11-13T22:22:00.001+07:00

British Airways World Cargo has announced that it has appointed a new customer service team in Thailand.

The new team replaced Qantas Freight, which is the airline's previous general sales agent in Thailand, from 3 November and is based in new headquarters at WFS-PG Cargo Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The airline operates seven weekly flights to Thailand using Boeing 747-400 aircraft.

The creation of the new sales office follows a mutually amicable agreement with Qantas Freight, according to British Airways World Cargo.

BAWC appoints customer service team in Thailand

2008-11-13T22:19:00.000+07:00

BRITISH Airways World Cargo (BAWC) has announced the appointment of a new customer service team in Thailand. From 3 November 2008, the new team will replace Qantas Freight, the carrier’s previous general sales agent in Thailand, and will be based in a new office at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The creation of a new sales office is said to represent a significant boost to BAWC’s operations in Thailand, where the carrier aims to build on its previous performance.

Latha Narayan, area commercial manager, South-East Asia and Australasia, BAWC, said: “This appointment is a positive step forward for BAWC in Thailand and demonstrates our commitment to customers in the region. We’re looking forward to strengthening the support we can give to customers wishing to take advantage of our unrivalled network.”

BAWC opens sales office in Thailand

2008-11-13T22:18:00.001+07:00

British Airways World Cargo (BAWC) has appointed a new service team in Thailand to replace Qantas Freight, the carrier's previous general sales agent (GSA) in Thailand.

The team is based in a new office at WFS-PG Cargo Suvarnabhumi Airport.

BAWC operates seven weekly B747-400 line flights to Thailand which route London - Bangkok - Sydney - Bangkok - London and feed into the carrier's global network.

Latha Narayan, area commercial manager, South-East Asia and Australasia BAWC said: "This appointment is a positive step forward for BA World Cargo in Thailand and demonstrates our commitment to customers in the region."

ตั้งกก.3ฝ่ายแก้ปัญหาเสียงสุวรรณภูมิ

2008-11-07T00:46:00.003+07:00

จากมติชน วันที่ 10 กันยายน 2550

กระทรวงคมนาคมตั้งกรรมการ 3 ฝ่าย ร่วมหาทางออกปัญหามลภาวะทางเสียงสนามบินสุวรรณภูมิกระทบชาวบ้าน เตรียมหารือสัปดาห์หน้า ด้านแกนนำชาวบ้านผู้เดือดร้อนยันรัฐต้องจ่ายค่าชดเชยแก่ชาวบ้านกว่า 1,200 ครอบครัว
เมื่อวันที่ 10 กันยายน ตัวแทนกลุ่มผู้ได้รับความเดือดร้อนจากมลภาวะเรื่องเสียงจากการขึ้นลงของ เครื่องบินที่ท่าอากาศยานสุวรรณภูมิ ประมาณ 20 คน นำโดยนายวันชาติ มานะธรรมสมบัติ ได้เดินทางไปยังกระทรวงคมนาคม เพื่อรอฟังผลการประชุมระหว่างคณะกรรมการบริษัทท่าอากาศยานไทย จำกัด (มหาชน) หรือ ทอท. กับ พล.ร.อ.ธีระ ห้าวเจริญ รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงคมนาคม
ภาย หลังการประชุม พล.ร.อ.ธีระเปิดเผยว่า เบื้องต้นจะจัดตั้งคณะกรรมการร่วม 3 ฝ่าย หรือไตรภาคี ประกอบด้วยตัวแทนกระทรวงคมนาคมหรือ ทอท. ชาวบ้าน และสภาทนายความ สถาบันการศึกษา เช่น จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัยและสถาบันเทคโนโลยีแห่งเอเชีย (เอไอที) ในฐานะคนกลาง ฝ่ายละไม่เกิน 7 คน มีปลัดกระทรวงคมนาคมเป็นประธาน เพื่อหารือกำหนดทางออกของปัญหา และพิจารณาว่า ข้อเรียกร้องของชาวบ้านข้อใดสามารถดำเนินการได้ ข้อใดที่ขัดต่อข้อกฎหมาย โดยจะเริ่มหารือในสัปดาห์หน้า ซึ่งตัวแทนชาวบ้านมีท่าทีพอใจและจะไม่มีการเคลื่อนไหวก่อกวนการบินในช่วงนี้
นาย วันชาติกล่าวว่า แกนนำชาวบ้าน 32 หมู่บ้านยอมรับแนวทางการตั้งคณะกรรมการไตรภาคี แต่คณะกรรมการต้องทำงานภายใต้มติคณะรัฐมนตรี วันที่ 21 พฤศจิกายน 2549 ที่จะจ่ายชดเชยชาวบ้านที่ได้รับผลกระทบ 1,254 หลังคาเรือน เชื่อว่าจะได้ข้อสรุปในวันที่ 17 กันยายนนี้