"Bangkok Airport completion faces 3-month delay"

Thursday, September 11, 2003

Airport completion faces 3-month delay
Thailand - The Nation


Completion of the New Bangkok International Airport is likely to be set back
three months, due to design revisions of the passenger terminal and aircraft
parking surfaces, an official source said yesterday.

Work by contractor ITO Joint Venture is 20-per-cent behind schedule,
according to a senior executive of New Bangkok International Airport Co, the
state-owned project developer.

Only 37 per cent of the passenger terminal has been completed, along with 36
per cent of the airport aprons. The two jobs, costing Bt36.5 billion, were
due to be finished by December next year.

The government has ordered changes to the airport's original plan -
increasing the airport's handling capacity from 30 million passengers a year
to 45 million, and adjustments to allow a high-speed electric train linking
the airport to downtown Bangkok.

The source said these were the first adjustments to the main construction
plan since ITO began work on the new airport.

Aside from these changes increasing its workload, ITO has had differences
with the project's architect, Murphy Jahn/Tams/Act (MJTA), the source said.

"We're worrying if MJTA still has problems in coordinating with ITO.
Suvarnabhumi Airport may not be able to commence commercial operations on
September 29, 2005 as set by the government," he said.

However, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit insisted yesterday the
new airport would be completed on time despite the revisions to the
construction contract.

Suriya called a meeting yesterday at the ministry with parties participating
in the Suvarnabhumi project including NBIA, Airports of Thailand, Thai
Airways International and ITO to discuss ways to avoid any delays.

Suriya said the new contract would allow the previous lawsuit between NBIA
and ITO regarding the slow pace of construction to be dropped.


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