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Published on December 4, 2007

Airports of Thailand's efforts to reopen Don Mueang as an international and domestic airport received a cold response from airlines and authorities yesterday.

While most airlines are against returning to Don Mueang following the AOT board's resolution on Sunday to reopen the old airport for international flights, Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen said yesterday that the next government would make the decision on the proposal.

"Airlines and the AOT have different opinions on Don Mueang as they have to take their own interests into account. But the ministry must act on what benefits the Kingdom," he said.

Theera also hinted that the AOT may fail to win approval for the reopening, saying that Suvarnabhumi Airport could comfortably accommodate up to 50 million passengers a year with better air-traffic management.

The new airport, opened on September 28, 2006, was designed for a maximum of 45 million passengers.

A source from Board of Airline Representatives, which is a grouping of airlines, agreed that the interim government should not make this crucial decision on the reopening.

"It should be passed on to the elected government, or the decision now could be overturned and this would further cause confusion.

"Though Suvarnabhumi is congested, it is not yet in crisis. This issue is not that urgent," the source said.

Meanwhile, Theera also hinted that while Don Mueang may not be reopened, the extension of Suvarnabhumi would also be put on hold.

The AOT is expected to invest over Bt48 billion for the Phase 2 development, which was originally planned to kick off early next year.

"The investment costs billions of baht and this government's term is coming to an end. I think it is improper to ask for a Cabinet decision on this," Theera said.

Kannikar Kemavuthanon, vice director-general of the Civil Aviation Department, insisted that the single-airport policy be maintained for the convenience of airlines and passengers and in pursuance of the aim to make Suvarnabhumi the Southeast Asian hub.

"A dual-airport policy could confuse the public as Suvarnabhumi has been open for just a year."

Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive of Thai AirAsia, said the airline was waiting for further news from the government over relocating international flights from Suvarnabhumi to Don Mueang.

"I cannot make any comments for now," said Tassapon.

He added that hundreds of people yesterday called the company enquiring whether the airline will restart operations at the old airport or continue operations from Suvarnabhumi.

Tassapon earlier said the company would never go back to Don Mueang if the ministry reopened the airport specifically for domestic flights.

The airline is thought to have benefited from the reopening of Don Mueang as out of the budget carriers it operates the most number of flights on both international and domestic routes.

Udom Tantiprasonchai, CEO of Orient Thai and One-Two-Go, said AirAsia would benefit most from the reopening of Don Mueang.

"More than 90 per cent of airlines will continue using Suvarnabhumi Airport, but the decision by the Airports of Thailand board is helping AirAsia, which wants to use Don Mueang as its hub," said Udom.

Srihaphan Chumsai, deputy CEO of low-cost carrier Nok Air said the airline was waiting for further details on the possible move, so the airline cannot yet make any response.

A Thai Airways International executive, who asked to remain anonymous, told Krungthep Turakij newspaper that the airline would not move back to Don Mueang because the company has invested a huge amount of money at Suvarnabhnumi. The executive said operating costs would skyrocket if international flights were moved back to Don Mueang.

A source at the Transport Ministry said the AOT's board was confusing the public with its decision on Sunday.

While the Thaksin government trumpeted the single-airport policy after the opening of Suvarnabhumi, the AOT wants to operate Don Mueang as a parallel airport to Suvarnabhumi.

 "This follows the board's decision to terminate contracts for King Power International Group," the source said.

Watcharapong Thongrung,

 Suchat Sritama

 The Nation