• 
• 

Published on August 25, 2007

Despite their appreciation for Suvarnabhumi Airport's location, airlines executives say it can quickly lose its edge to other airports in Southeast Asia.

In a survey by the Siam Technology College, airline executives complained about cramped offices, stinking toilets, damaged floors, runways and taxiways.

The shiny airport is barely a year old.

"The damaged runways and taxiways have caused stress to pilots and passengers," Dr Polkrit Tantiyanukool, assistant director of the research centre, Siam Techno Poll, said yesterday.

Executives of 10 domestic and international airlines were surveyed this month with in-depth interviews.

When asked to compare Suvarnabhumi with other, similar facilities in the region, the respondents said they preferred Singapore's Changi airport, saying services at Suvarnabhumi were rather slow. They also pointed out that airports in Vietnam could emerge as challengers in the next two years, because, apart from a flawed airport, Thailand's unstable political situation has kept tourists away.

However, the respondents said they had no problems with the airport's location, saying that in comparison to Don Mueang, the new airport was more convenient. They also found Suvarnabhumi aesthetically appealing.

"The airline executives reckon they have seen improvements over the past year," Dr Opas Kijkamhaeng, a director at Siam Techno Poll, said at a forum attended by 800 participants, including college students.

Asked for suggestions, the respondents said that more seating was needed, as well as Wi-Fi services, better security, more restaurants and cheaper food.

The airport's director, Serirat Prasutanont, said he would include these recommendations when proposing improvements to the board of Airports of Thailand on September 6.