"Bangkok Airport: IATA urges changes in 30 areas"

Saturday, November 2, 2002

IATA urges changes in 30 areas
Allowances endorsed for panel members
Amornrat Mahitthirook
Thailand - The Bangkok Post


Suvarnabhumi airport could still be improved to turn it into a world-class
airport, says the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The association presented a list of changes at a meeting yesterday with New
Bangkok International Airport Co (NBIA).

David Inglis, IATA assistant director for airport development, said the
airport should be improved in about 30 areas but important changes fell
under three main categories.

They were extension of runways, integration of baggage handling systems and
cuts in check-in procedures.

Runway length should increase from 3,700 metres to 4,000 metres. Baggage
handling for domestic and international passengers should come under a
single system to save time and increase space.

Three to four check-in procedures could be cut to increase space that would
in turn boost the airport's capacity to serve passengers.

IATA would meet again on Dec 15 before writing to the NBIA.

Gen Somchai Somprasong, acting NBIA managing director, said some changes
could be made straight away, but for any expensive or complicated changes
his agency would have to hold consultations with its design consultant, the
Murphy Jahn/TAMS/ACT (MJTA) consortium.

``For the runways, the extension to the south may approach a building that
we have approved. A northern extension may not match the original plan.
Extension of the eastern runway may be possible,'' he said.

The recommendations should have been raised before the airport design was
finalised, he said.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said money saved from previous
changes to the passenger terminal could pay for the latest ones. MJTA has
been confirmed as design consultant for the airport terminal at Nong Ngu
Hao.

Transport permanent secretary Srisuk Chantharangsu, as NBIA chairman, said
MJTA's quote of 260 million baht had been reduced to 228 million, lower than
the maximum 228.6 million baht set by Japan Bank for International
Cooperation.

The NBIA board also endorsed allowances, between 10,000 and 13,000 baht a
month, for the nine panel members to speed up the airport project.

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