Early visitors feel the heat

Suvarnabhumi Airport is already welcoming visitors each day curious to see what the new airport looks like. The luxurious new facility officially opens on September 28.
Many visitors have noted the inside of the terminal is not as cool as they expected from a newly built airport.

But airport director Somchai Sawasdeepon said it was only running a few of the terminal’s air-conditioning units ahead of the official opening.

“If we turned on all the air conditioning, it would cost about Bt80,000 an hour. That’s too much. So we only turn on some to save money,” Somchai told The Nation.

Early visitors seeking a sneak preview should be prepared for a warm reception.
But taxpayers’ cash is being saved.

More than just an airport

The Oxford English Dictionary defines “airport” as “a complex of runways and buildings for the take-off, landing and maintenance of civil aircraft, with facilities for passengers”.

If we stick to that definition, then maybe Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport is more than just an airport.

When it officially opens later this month, Suvarnabhumi will provide passengers with services on top of those that classify it as an airport, its general manager Somchai Sawasdeepon said.

Somchai was talking about dental clinics, spas, karaoke lounges and hair salons.

In regard to dental services, Somchai said this was an initiative to provide passengers who did not have much time, or had urgent dental problems.

He said that passengers would not be overcharged or face exorbitant prices for dental and other services.

PM’s switch proves a relief

The decision by caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to fly to a summit in Cuba from London and not via Bangkok has relieved some people planning to fly tomorrow on the plane he was scheduled to take.

Thaksin decided to stop over in London following the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Helsinki.

He cited a gruelling travel schedule and a personal health problem for the programme change.

He would now fly to Cuba from London rather than return to Bangkok first.

Thaksin’s initial schedule would have seen he and his entourage depart for Cuba tomorrow from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Most international flights are not due to take off from the new airport until September 28. The commercial craft ferrying Thaksin would have been forced to divert to Suvarnabhumi after boarding passengers at Don Muang.

Other passengers aboard would have had to endure the short hop from the old airport to the new one to pick up the VIP passenger, before making the scheduled flight to Osaka, Japan.

Thaksin said he would rest at the family home in London, where one of his daughters is studying.

Thaksin attended the Asem summit in Helsinki last weekend.

He is scheduled to attend a meeting of Non Aligned Movement countries in Havana this week before heading to the United Nations general assembly in New York.