The new Bangkok International Airport at Suvarnabhumi has been plagued with problems during the four months it has been open. The problems – poor signage, baggage delays, length of walk to departure gates – were attributed to teething problems. But the recent cracks found in the runway and taxiways point to a deeper rooted problem. There have also been faults with the ceiling, air-conditioning and the docking bridges. So much for teething problems.
It seems that enough is enough and the old airport at Don Muang is to re-open. There have been a lot of mixed messages and backtracking from all parties concerned, but Don Muang has been approved to open as Bangkok’s second international airport. The situation is still vey unclear, but budget carriers operating internal flights such as Air Asia, Nok Air and One-Two-Go, all seem likely to move their operations back to Don Muang. Thai Airways are currently considering their options. It seems likely Thai Airways will continue to use Suvarnabhumi for flights to Chiang Mai, Krabi and Phuket for the many international passengers with connecting flights.
In the long-term, the use of two airports for Bangkok may prove to be a good thing, but in the short-term it is sure to lead to confusion for travellers, particularly with no infrastructure in place between the two airports, which can easily take 2 hours to travel between. Whilst passengers face potential headaches, spare a thought for the many workers who moved home from north Bangkok to the eastern suburbs to be nearer their new place of work at Suvarnabhumi.
Some commentators have predicted the complete closure of the new airport in the course of time. Others point to the amount of money spent and the national pride at stake and insist that the new airport will not be closed. At this stage it is all conjecture, but the new government have outlined that they would like Don Muang to re-open by the end of March.
The gleaming new airport at Suvarnabhumi was supposed to be the major new hub for South-East Asia. Perhaps, in time, it will prove to be so. But at the moment the very future of the airport hangs in the balance. The new airport has long been seen as the pet project of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin. During the construction phase, there were continuous reports of corruption, which involved security scanners and retail concession space amongst the many accusations of impropriety. Rightly or wrongly, fingers continue to point in Mr. Thaksin’s direction.
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