All local and international airlines have announced they are ready to relocate to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport on the official opening date of September 28, while three budget carriers - keen to avoid road congestion caused by the transfer of equipment - have opted to move their fleets up to three days ahead of schedule.

In a meeting held by airline operators yesterday to discuss their readiness to make the move, Air France said it would be ready to divert its aircraft to Suvarnabhumi on September 28.

Contrary to a recent report, no airline has to date said it plans to shift flights to other countries in the region.

All major airlines, including Thai Airways International (THAI), Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and other international carriers, told the panel they had no problem with the opening date of the new airport.

The government has said all flights must move to the new airport on September 28, when the existing Don Muang Airport will close to commercial traffic.

In a bid to woo airlines to Suvarnabhumi, Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has postponed its plan to increase service fees by six months until April 2007. The fees includes a landing and parking fee and passenger airport tax.

Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive of Thai AirAsia, said all its flights would move to the new airport on September 25, three days ahead of the official opening. The final 10 flights, both domestic and international, on September 24 will also fly to the new airport.

"Even though our facilities there, including the office at the new airport, are not complete we are confident everything will be ready in time," Tassapon said.

"The early move is an attempt to avoid traffic congestion at the new airport the night before the opening date," he said.

The airline has already informed passengers about the move. Ticket prices will not be increased, as the costs are the same now that the airport authorities have agreed to delay the landing-fee hike.

Thai AirAsia, a joint venture between Shin Corp and Malaysia's AirAsia, said its 70 daily flights would shift from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi on September 25.

One Two Go, the low-cost unit of Orient Thai, said it would transfer all its flights to the new airport on September 26, two days before the opening date.

One of the company's officers said the firm was keen to have a two-day head start to learn more about the airport.

Nok Air, another budget carrier and THAI's sister airline, confirmed it would transfer all its flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport on September 27, one day ahead of the official opening.

THAI's own local flights will be using the new airport from September 15, as required by the government.

Jetstar Asia will be the first foreign airline to use Suvarnabhumi Airport, flying from Singapore three times a day - also from September 15.

The new airport, which can serve up to 45 million passengers per year, will relieve congestion at the overstretched Don Muang, which is currently handling about two million passengers above its capacity.

The government hopes Suvarnabhumi will help Thailand compete against rival airports in Malaysia and Singapore to become the region's most important aviation hub.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation