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First passengers arrive at new airport
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Monday, 31 July 2006 |
The first paying passengers have landed at Bangkok's new international airport on test flights ahead of its planned opening in September. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was among the 375 passengers on the first flight to land at Suvarnabhumi Airport. "Minor problems should not be an obstacle to opening the new airport... A swift opening is key for Thailand to emerge as a regional aviation hub. We can't wait any longer," he was quoted as saying. However, industry groups expressed concern that the government has rushed to open the airport too quickly.
"What is important is to have Suvarnabhumi Airport begin commercial operations only when it is operationally ready... This means having undergone the required robust and comprehensive testing and trials to ensure that the various systems are working 100% and are seamlessly integrated," said Albert Tjoeng, spokesman for the International Air Transport Association.
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