• 
• 

Published on September 12, 2007

Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport is not expected to receive an aerodrome certificate from the Civil Aviation Department even as it nears its first year of full operations on September 28.

Director-general Chaisak Angkasuwan said yesterday that the issuance of the certificate following International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards needed to wait for approval of the amended aviation law by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

"The draft of the amended aviation law is under the preparation process for proposal to the NLA," he said, adding that it would not be completed before the new airport's first anniversary.

The certificate would help Airports of Thailand (AOT) gain the confidence of its users in its international security standards, he said.

However, AOT, as the operator of Suvarnabhumi Airport, will have to prepare for worker teams and adjust its working system to conform with ICAO criteria.

Chaisak said the proposal for reopening international flight services at Don Mueang Airport, which was scheduled to be considered at AOT's board meeting in September, has been put off to the next meeting due mainly to the huge agenda. Don Mueang has resumed domestic flights.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved AOT's proposal to mitigate the impact of noise pollution on people and to expand airport capacity.

Chodechai Suwannaporn, government deputy spokesman, said the Cabinet approved a Bt174.77-million supplementary budget to help people suffering from planes roaring overhead.

The Cabinet also asked AOT to make plans to enlarge Suvarnabhumi and submit them to the National Economic and Social Development Board, the state-owned think-tank, for evaluation.

AOT needs Bt3.61 billion for new investment and reserves of Bt600 million for necessary unforeseen investment.

Passenger arrivals and flights landing at the new airport have exceeded projections.

The Cabinet requested AOT to draft a plan to solve the congestion problem at the airport.

The Cabinet also approved the fiscal 2008 budget for 60 state

enterprises, divided into Bt289.76 billion for capital investment and Bt508.13 billion for operating expenses, he said.

The Cabinet urged state enterprises to speed up budget disbursement, improve productivity and enhance their capacity in information technology, while refinancing their debts to lessen the impact of exchange rate volatility.

Watcharapong Thongrung

 Wichit Chaitrong

 The Nation