Bannawit insists on Suvarnabhumi's closure
The chairman of the National Legislative Assembly's ad-hoc committee on the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Admiral Bannawit Kengrien, Sunday stood by his suggestion that the airport should be closed if both runways are found to have sustained damages.
"The closure will be for the sake of safety," Bannawit said. His committee is tasked with following up on solutions for the country's newest airport, which opened in late September. Just months after its opening, the Suvarnabhumi Airport has seen cracks on its taxiways. An investigation panel led by Tortrakul Yomnark will Monday hold a press conference to announce what problems it has found at the airport, how the repairs should be conducted, and whether the Suvarnabhumi Airport should be closed. Tortrakul, a civil engineer, is a board member of the Airports of Thailand. His panel will report its investigation results to Transport Minister Admiral Theera Haocharoen before the press conference. So far, Bannawit Sunday said if the Suvarnabhumi Airport was closed to all traffic, Don Muang Airport would be able to accommodate the flight and airfreight services. "I propose the closure because this will prevent the problems (at the Suvarnabhumi Airport) from dragging on," he said. Bannawit was speaking in response to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's recent comment that Suvarnabhumi Airport should remain operational while repairs are carried out. Krai Tungsnga, a member of the Bannawit-chaired committee, also said the problems at Suvarnabhumi were not so serious that the closure was a must. Krai is also the vice-chairman of the Engineering Institute of Thailand. Moreover, Thai Airways International's union has already expressed dissatisfaction over the possibility of having two international airports in Greater Bangkok. In a related development, Democrat Party's spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon Sunday urged the government to set up a neutral committee to decide on the fate of the Suvarnabhumi Airport. "The committee should comprise experts from all relevant fields and it should look into all problems at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, not just about taxiways and runaways. What's about other problems such as water leakage, inadequate lighting and hot temperature inside the terminal there?" Ongart said. He added this committee should compile relevant information and recommend solutions within clear timeframe. "The Cabinet should consider recommendations from this committee," Ongart said. He said the government should also take actions against people who had left so many problems at the Suvarnabhumi Airport The Nation
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