airport ready to join elite, pledges aot

"Higher jet fuel prices which led to the global economic slowdown and domestic political conflicts have affected the figures," Serirat Prasutanond, manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport and acting president of Airports of Thailand, said yesterday.

Passenger counts have reached 38.6 million in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year and should hit 41.14 million when it ends this month.

The new airport welcomed 41.93 million passengers in its inaugural year.

Authorities have said higher fuel costs have forced airlines to cut flights, while visitors were scared away by the state of emergency imposed temporarily in Bangkok this month.

Launched on September 28, 2006, the airport's two runways can handle up to 45 million passengers, 76 flights per hour and 3 million tonnes of cargo per year. A total of 111 airlines are operating out of Suvarnabhumi, with 97 carrying passengers and 14 dedicated to freight.

The airport has accommodated 2.42 million tonnes of cargo shipments - 1.23 million in the first year and 1.29 million this year.

In the past year, AOT added 116 toilets to bring the total to 1,580. More direction signs have been put up and the one-stop service centre was opened. During rush hours, the swing-gate system has been implemented to facilitate higher flight frequencies.

"The Airport Service Quality scores have improved due to those measures. But, in the third year, we still have a lot to do, including improvement of the baggage trolley system as well as safety measures. More closed-circuit TV monitors will be installed and the check-in area will be partitioned," Serirat said.

The airport is waiting for the National Economic and Social Development Board's review of the Bt73.7-billion Phase II plan.