Expect delays ot detour in using new Thai airport.
--www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/26/headlines/headlines_30025156.php
MINISTER ADMITS:Some airlines afraid to use new
airport
Theera says runway can be fixed without closing facility, while
repairs force planes to circle overhead or land at U-Tapao
Incoming flights were delayed at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday as
its west runway was closed for repairs for two hours, while the
transport minister admitted some airlines were afraid to use the
new airport due to safety concerns.
While inspecting cracks on taxiways Transport Minister Theera
Haocharoen said: "This has started to affect the country's image
and some airlines are afraid to use Suvarnabhumi due to safety
fears."
Some flights had to circle the airport yesterday afternoon
or land at U-Tapao military airfield in Chon Buri for refuelling
and temporary parking.
A source from Thai Airways International said two of the airline's
international flights were delayed by more than one hour.
"Flight TG 414 from Singapore should have landed at 5.05pm but it
landed at 6.35pm. Meanwhile, the Tokyo-Manila-Bangkok Flight TG 621
landed at 6.45pm, two hours after its original landing schedule at
4.45pm," he said.
A passenger on a domestic Thai Airways flight from Hat Yai, which
landed at U-Tapao, said he was on the plane for an hour before the
flight could return to Suvarnabhumi.
"Before getting to Suvarnabhumi, I was informed that my plane could
not land due to the traffic jam and the captain made a detour to
U-Tapao. My plane was the first to get there and during the hour I
saw four or five more planes land, one of them belonging to Thai
AirAsia," he said.
Flight TG 240, another flight from Hat Yai, delayed its takeoff for
40 minutes and passengers were told they had to wait till
Suvarnabhumi Airport was less congested. Its takeoff was delayed
from 4.50pm until 5.30pm.
Somchai Sawasdeepon, Airports of Thailand (AoT) senior executive
vice president and Suvarnabhumi director, said the west runway was
closed for repairs from 2pm to 4pm. This coincided with Theera's
inspection of cracks on the taxiways.
"The repairs had been scheduled. We informed all flights to stop
over at U-Tapao where they could refill their tanks," Somchai
said.
During his two-hour inspection accompanied by AoT chairman General
Saprang Kalayanamitr, Theera admitted that 11 aero-bridges were
sealed off due to subsidence on the taxiways.
In the first official admission of damage at the airport,
Theera identified more than 100 points at 25 areas on taxiways and
one point on the west runway where damage had occurred. Seven
points on the taxiways had been repaired but subsidence had
reoccurred after two weeks.
"Cracks have also been found at many other areas. This will affect
travellers on planes that can not reach 11 aero-bridges, while the
repairs have caused traffic jams," Theera said.
While admitting the airport needs swift repairs, Theera insisted
that Suvarnabhumi would not be shut and Don Muang reopened.
Cracks in the main runway could be repaired without shutting it
down because they had occurred at the head of the runway, allowing
jets enough space to land if work was underway, he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemras also said yesterday he
opposed shifting flights to Don Muang, saying this would
inconvenience travellers.
Theera said engineers and technicians had been asked to find
"temporary" ways to fix the cracks within the next few weeks. In
the next two weeks, an investigation committee chaired by Tortrakul
Yomnag will start examining the ground underneath the airport,
which is located in an area known as Cobra Swamp.
The airport has been plagued by operational glitches and structural
defects that have been blamed on the rushed manner in which it was
built and opened, as well as the opaque way in which building
contracts were awarded.
Besides cracks, there have been reports of leaks in the roof,
faulty air-conditioning, poor drainage in the parking lots and
complaints of a severe shortage of rest rooms.
Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um yesterday warned that
12 light-control boxes are inappropriately located: although they
were built to handle temperatures of up to 40 degrees they were
placed outside where the temperature can rise to 45 degrees. They
could be damaged by the heat or catch fire, he said.
"These problems indicate massive corruption," Saprang said.
"Someone needs to take responsibility."
Despite reports AoT president Chotisak Asapaviriya's job was on the
line due to the airport's problems, his dismissal was not on the
agenda of the agency's meeting yesterday.
Watcharapong Thongrung
The Nation
Taxiway No. 11 at Suvarnabhumi airport is now under
repair after cracks were found on its surface. KITJA
APICHONROJAREK,26.10.2007