airport Study to Abhisit this week

The Transport Ministry is conducting an urgent study into whether Bangkok should have a single commercial airport or operate out of both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi.

Results of the study are due to be submitted to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva by the end of the week.

Transport Minister Sophon Saram yesterday said an air-transport supervisory committee had assigned Transport permanent secretary Surachai Tansitpong to lead the study group.

Sophon said he would submit the results of the comparative study of single and dual airport use to the PM this week.

The ministry is likely to favour a single airport policy , as it believes this will enhance the Kingdom's chances of becoming a regional aviation hub.

Sophon said Airports of Thailand, the operator of both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, had already revised its second-phase development plan for Suvarnabhumi Airport.

AOT plans to reduce its budget from the originally planned Bt70 billion-Bt80 billion, to Bt10 billion.

AOT will, however, still build a third runway and domestic passenger terminal at Suvarnabhumi.

"Once the expansion is finished, the airport will be able to accommodate up to 76 million passengers per year," said Sophon.

He added that the ministry would seek Cabinet approval of the necessary budget.

Meanwhile, Narongsak Sangapong, acting president of Thai Airways International, said the airline was ready to move domestic flights from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi Airport from March 29. It currently operates domestic flights out of both airports.

However, the team of economic ministers will make the final decision on whether THAI should stay at Don Mueang or return to Suvarnabhumi Airport, he said.

The airline also plans to increase the number of domestic check-in counters at Suvarnabhumi Airport to 36, said Narongsak.

According to the latest THAI newsletter, the company has received 127,617 domestic bookings for the post-March 29 period.

Of the total, 70,617 are for Suvarnabhumi Airport, reflecting most passengers' expectations of a relocation.

Abhisit said yesterday that THAI's decision to move domestic flights back to Suvarnabhumi had nothing to do with the government's pending decision on a single-airport policy.

 He said he had been waiting for the Transport Ministry's information on passenger numbers before reaching a decision on single or dual airport use. Meanwhile, THAI's relocation is a matter for the company to decide.

 He added that the government's decision on the airport policy would be vital to whether the Suvarnabhumi Phase II development project proceeds as planned.