Thailand's domestic carriers start moving back to old airport

BANGKOK (XFN-ASIA) - Domestic carriers have started moving equipment back to Bangkok's nearly century-old Don Muang airport, which is set to re-open this weekend for commercial flights, officials said.

Thai Airways International and two budget airlines - Nok Airlines and One-Two-Go - are scheduled to resume domestic flights from Don Muang on Sunday, six months after it was shut and all commercial flights were moved to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Flights with international connections as well as Thai Airways flights to holiday hotspots like Phuket and Chiang Mai will continue to use the new airport, in a bid to minimize inconvenience to the 40 mln passengers expected to fly through Bangkok this year.

Officials estimate that making Don Muang a domestic hub will relieve almost 20 pct of the traffic at Suvarnabhumi, which has faced ongoing problems since it opened on Sept 28, including small cracks in the tarmac.

About 20,000 passengers are expected to use Don Muang every day, the airport's general manager, Pinit Saraithong, said.

"We have upgraded the runways to ensure smoother landings and take-offs, while check-in and luggage delivery systems have been kept in working order, even though we haven't had commercial flights" for the past six months, Pinit told Agence France-Presse.

Date posted: 20-Mar-07