"Thai PM to spend night at airport building site amid delay fears"

Monday, September 27, 2004

Thai PM to spend night at airport building site amid delay fears
Agence France-Presse


BANGKOK, (AFP) - Thailand's premier is to spend the night at Bangkok's
part-finished 3.7 billion dollar international airport on Monday to try to
encourage contractors to complete the long-delayed project on time.

Thaksin Shinawatra will sleep in a temporary workers' hut in a demonstration
of the government's determination to open Suvarnabhumi Airport as planned in
September next year despite doubts expressed by the airline industry.

He will be joined by the country's transport minister and contractors for
the overnight stop before holding a cabinet meeting at the airport the next
day.

The government insisted the airport remained on track to open on time as it
battles regional rivals Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong to become Asia's
predominant air hub.

The new airport is a key part of its strategy but a meeting of the body
representing airlines here earlier this month criticised the design of the
new airport. Officials said there was "next to zero" chance of it opening on
time and expected a delay of up to 18 months.

"The visit to the new airport by the prime minister is a signal that the
government is serious about finishing the airport on time and opening it
next year as planned so it will not affect Thailand's target to be the
region's hub for aviation," said government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair.

"When we open it, the airport is ready for service but it does not mean it
will be totally completed because other sections may take another year."

The airport has been in the pipeline for 40 years but has been plagued by
allegations of cronyism and mismanagement.

It is designed to handle 45 million passengers, 50 percent more than the
existing city airport, and could eventually expand to 100 million.


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