The domestic terminal has been prepped as the domestic flight operations base for the three airlines.

 AOT has cleaned the road in front of the terminal and repainted the building. Check-in counters were decorated and the ticket check-in system was inspected, as well as the taxiway and runway.

Don Muang director Pinit Saraithong said he has summoned all commercial operators - food shops and other retail outlets - to get ready for the reopening.

"All systems must be ready today," he said, adding that AOT expects to spend no more than Bt20 million in preparations.

Thai Airways International (THAI) yesterday announced it planned to recruit 300 staff in response to the return of its domestic-flight operations to the old Don Muang Airport.

President Apinan Sumanaseni said the additional workers would raise overhead costs by at least Bt50 million a year.

 According to THAI's Apinan, out of the total 300 planned new workers, 125 have already been employed as the first part of the plan, he said. The other 175 are expected to work at the old airport and the THAI check-in terminal being constructed at Lat Phrao subway station.

Meanwhile, the company said operation costs would increase from the provision of more services, such as a shuttle bus between Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports and higher expenditures for the transportation of pilots and crews.

Apinan said this would be more convenient for travellers. Its non-transit domestic flights at the old airport will number 30 a day, while its transit domestic flights connecting to international flights at Suvarnabhumi Airport will total 11 a day. Domestic destinations that normally connect to international flights include Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Krabi.

At Don Muang, THAI will operate departures on the second floor at check-in counters 15-26. Arrivals will remain on the first floor.

Flights out of Don Muang Airport will have four digits starting with 1 - TG 1xxx, such as TG 1203 - and those operating out of Suvarnabhumi Airport will have three digits.

Passengers may check in luggage up to three hours prior to flight departures. Services also include shuttle-bus service between Lat Phrao subway station and Don Muang Airport.

The service links transportation facilities between the subway, the Skytrain and THAI flights.

Domestic-flight check-in and shuttle-bus services will be available from 4am to 8pm. Furthermore, passengers without luggage can check in up to one day before flight departure.

THAI will also subsidise parking fees for passengers using the check-in terminal at Lat Phrao subway station. Passengers will pay Bt60 a day for parking instead of the nor?mal daily rate of Bt380.

However, all passengers need to take time for luggage inspection at the Lat Phrao check-in terminal for security reasons.

Next Sunday, the first flight operating from Don Muang Airport will be TG 1020 to Ubon Ratchathani, departing at 6am and arriving at 7.05am. The flight will use a Boeing 737-400 aircraft.

The first flight to Don Muang, also using a Boeing 737-400, will be TG 1161 from Phitsanulok, departing at 7.40am and arriving at 8.25am.

Airports of Thailand will provide special-price transportation services between Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports in the form of airport buses, taxis and limousines.

Apinan denied a rumour that THAI would withdraw its Bangkok-Los Angeles and Bangkok-New York long-haul routes and confirmed the airline would retain both. The routes use three Airbus A340 aircraft.

Moreover, it will increase the number of flights to each city from five times a week to daily starting on May 1. The move is aimed at drawing more business travellers.

THAI will thus automatically shelve a plan to sell off the three aircraft.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation