Published on September 15, 2006 - Detector makes an exception

Caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal may have thought he had been given special privileges at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday when he was allowed to walk through a set of metal detectors with his cellophane and a key chain still in his pocket.

He and his team surprised airport authorities yesterday when they appeared and started inspecting metal detectors and check-in counters ahead of Suvarnabhumi's official opening for domestic flights on Friday. They also stopped by some duty free shops and an airport hotel. The caretaker transport minister spent about an hour inspecting the operational systems.

He told reporters that the security systems would need to be improved after he walked through a metal detector and purposely kept his mobile phone and key chain in his pocket.

"To my surprise, the machine did not beep at me. It did beep when my police guard walked past it," he said.

He was able to contain his surprise long enough to assign the officials concerned to improve the system before the fast-approaching opening date. It seems he did not believe he had special privileges as a minister.

60,000 meals

Air passengers jetting out of Bangkok can rest assured meals aboard their flights would be delicious.

Thai Airways Catering Department says it's ready to cook as many as 60,000 meals a day - sufficient for all the hungry departing passengers.

The department's building in Suvarnabhumi Airport was damaged by fire in January but is being rebuilt.

Until it is finished the company will use its old facilities at Don Muang.

It will be catering for several flights that start departing Suvarnabhumi from September 15, said Deputy Transport Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.

He added the catering department would be moved to the new building on the night of September 27. Everything would be functional on September 28.

Thai Airways' catering has been known worldwide and praised for its deliciousness.

All roads lead ...

More than 10,000 road signs will be erected throughout Bangkok to direct people to the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

As well as permanent signs there will also be several temporary ones to navigate travellers to the state-of-the-art airport. The new airport is scheduled to open for business on September 28.

The signs will get motorists to the airport site that straddles east Bangkok and Samut Prakarn Province.

Signs getting travellers from the airport to destinations in Bangkok will be built at the airport.