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Published on December 10, 2007

The official said this would signal the department's disagreement with the company's plan to reopen Don Mueang Airport for international flights.

"Compulsory international flights from Don Mueang would disrupt the plan to make Suvarnabhumi Airport the regional aviation hub. Most airlines operating at Suvarnabhumi are members of Star Alliance, which share some facilities. Separating them would only raise their operating costs and could induce managerial problems," Chaisak said in an interview.

The AOT board recently approved the reopening of the old airport for international flights, saying that it would ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi, which is now running near its full capacity of 45 million passengers a year.

Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen however said the proposal would not be considered by this government. He said the next administration should be the one to consider the matter.

AOT earlier commissioned the International Civil Aviation Organisation to conduct a feasibility study on the reopening, but this will not be finished until next year.

Chaisak acknowledged that the old airport, which has been operating for more than 90 years, is still considered an international airport, staffed with Customs officers. It can accommodate international flights, but most of them are charter flights.

"No regular international flights operate from Don Mueang, as airlines enjoy the facilities at Suvarnabhumi," he said.

Chaisak however said it would be possible to reopen Don Mueang on a voluntary basis, "although no airline would want to operate international flights there".

"Don Mueang's facilities and convenience cannot match those of Suvarnabhumi. The Civil Aviation Department would not support AOT if it imposed the compulsory reopening of Don Mueang for international flights."

Meanwhile, Chaisak agreed with the AOT's board in proceeding with the phase-II development at Suvarnabhumi to accommodate an increase in the number of passengers.

"This is in line with the 'single airport' policy which the Civil Aviation Department and the Transport Ministry supports," he said.

The phase-II development is expected to cost between Bt48 billion and Bt50 billion. It was originally planned to start in 2008, but the ministry is holding the issue for the next government due to the huge investment.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation