CDRM reaffirms opening of new airport
The Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) Sunday reaffirmed that the Suvarnabhumi Airport is going to open early Thursday as it has been scheduled before last week's successful coup, which has overthrown Thaksin Shinawatra.
However, there will no opening ceremony on that day, "It's just that we move from the Bangkok International Airport to the Suvarnabhumi Airport. No one is going to chair a ceremony on Thursday," Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) president Chotisak Asapaviriya said Sunday. He added that the opening ceremony for the new airport would take place only when a royal approval was given. Chotisak was speaking after he, Transport Ministry's permanent secretary Wanchai Sarathulthat, Suvarnabhumi Airport's director Somchai Sawasdipol, and Thai Airways International president Apinan Sumanaseni called on CDRM to report on the progress at the Suvarnabhumi Airport. Located in Samut Prakan, this new airport is expected to replace the Bangkok International Airport and to become a new aviation hub in Asia. CDRM deputy spokesman Maj-General Thawip Netniyom Sunday said CDRM has agreed to inspect the Suvarnabhumi Airport within the next few days and will also provide personnel support. According to Chotisak, CDRM is going to provide 800 military staffs to help the Airports of Thailand (AoT) and 500 other military staffs to the Thai Airways International (THAI) for the smooth opening of the Suvarnabhumi Airport. "The military staffs can assist us with transport of equipment from the old facilities to the new one. They can also help move luggage bags in case of emergencies," Chotisak said. Apinan said THAI already made more than 800 trips to move equipment from the old airport to the new airport. He added that more than 1,000 trips would be made to move the equipment on Wednesday. Somchai said he already informed CDRM of all preparations for the opening of the Suvarnahumi Airport, including when the last flight from the Bangkok International Airport would be and when the closing ceremony for the old facility would take place. He said CDRM was also informed that the decorations for some airlines' lounges inside the Suvarnabhumi Airport were not yet completed. "So far, THAI is going to allow these airlines to share its lounges," he said. Civil Aviation Department's director general Chaiyasak Angsuwan said the Suvarnabhumi Airport's safety standard was in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation's requirements. The Nation
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