"Bangkok airport 'seriously flawed'"

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Airport 'seriously flawed'
Airline execs say facility could lose its edge
Thailand - The Nation


Despite their appreciation for Suvarnabhumi Airport's location, airlines
executives say it can quickly lose its edge to other airports in Southeast
Asia. 

In a survey by the Siam Technology College, airline executives complained
about cramped offices, stinking toilets, damaged floors, runways and
taxiways. 

The shiny airport is barely a year old.

"The damaged runways and taxiways have caused stress to pilots and
passengers," Dr Polkrit Tantiyanukool, assistant director of the research
centre, Siam Techno Poll, said yesterday. 

Executives of 10 domestic and international airlines were surveyed this
month with in-depth interviews. 

When asked to compare Suvarnabhumi with other, similar facilities in the
region, the respondents said they preferred Singapore's Changi airport,
saying services at Suvarnabhumi were rather slow. They also pointed out that
airports in Vietnam could emerge as challengers in the next two years,
because, apart from a flawed airport, Thailand's unstable political
situation has kept tourists away.

However, the respondents said they had no problems with the airport's
location, saying that in comparison to Don Mueang, the new airport was more
convenient. They also found Suvarnabhumi aesthetically appealing. 

"The airline executives reckon they have seen improvements over the past
year," Dr Opas Kijkamhaeng, a director at Siam Techno Poll, said at a forum
attended by 800 participants, including college students. 

Asked for suggestions, the respondents said that more seating was needed, as
well as Wi-Fi services, better security, more restaurants and cheaper food.

The airport's director, Serirat Prasutanont, said he would include these
recommendations when proposing improvements to the board of Airports of
Thailand on September 6.

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