Local budget carrier Nok Air has announced it will cancel 30 flights that day, and Singapore Airlines and Air France have both informed the Civil Aviation Department that they will cancel one flight each.

Department director-general Chaisak Angkasuwan said the two international cancellations involved a passenger service of Singapore Airlines and a cargo flight of Air France.

Singapore Airlines has chosen not to operate a flight from Singapore to Don Muang Airport late on September 27. It would then have needed to fly to Suvarnabhumi early on September 28 to await the start of the new timetable at the new airport, he said. To avoid wasting both time and money, the airline decided to drop the flight.

Singapore Airlines' move is seen by other operators as reluctance to trust security during the switchover and a desire to avoid air traffic congestion. Air France has given similar reasons for its cancellation of one cargo service between Thailand and France.

Nok Air's executive vice president for marketing Sehapan Chumsai said the budget carrier would suspend 30 flights on September 28.

The move is an effort to avoid air traffic chaos during the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport. It will resume regular services from Suvarnabhumi on September 29.

Sehapan said Nok Air would transfer its operations from Don Muang on September 26, two days ahead of the official opening.

An aviation industry source said Korean Airlines was also planning to take a cargo flight off the schedule on September 28.

Earlier, Airports of Thailand  met more than 60 airlines to discuss the readiness of services at the new airport. All claimed to be ready for the move, but said nothing about changes nearer to the opening.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation