Transport Ministry suggests shifting some flights to Don Muang Airport
Thailand's Transport Ministry announced Monday that it would recommend that some domestic flights using Bangkok's new international airport be temporarily allowed to use the capital's old airport again.
Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen said his ministry would seek Cabinet approval for its recommendation on Feb 6 that some domestic flights that are not connecting ones be allowed to use Bangkok's old international airport at Don Muang.
The multi-billion-baht new airport has suffered a series of setbacks disrupting services over recent days.
The minister earlier said he believed recommissioning Don Muang will ease air-traffic congestion at Suvarnabhumi.
Last week, it was confirmed that Suvarnabhumi has cracks on runways and taxiways. On Thursday, repair work forced some flights into holding patterns over the airport and others to refuel at U-Tapao airfield in Chon Buri.
As many as 11 aerobridges at Suvarnabhumi Airport cannot be used owing to cracks on their surfaces and partial cave-ins on a runway.
Temporary repairs have commenced.
Tortrakul Yommanak is leading an investigation into the problems and has estimated that permanent repairs could take as long as one year.
The Tortrakul-led probe is expected to conclude the causes within two weeks. Tortrakul is a board member of Airports of Thailand (AOT).
The Nation
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