MichaelBKK

I'm just hearing first reports that Thai AirAsia has agreed to move back to Don Muang airport, effective in October. I imagine we'll see confirmation in tomorrow's papers, if it's true. I'm pretty sure this will only happen if the government follows through on an agreement to allow international flights in and out of Don Muang, since Thai AirAsia could hardly split its operations between two airports and keep costs down.

I'll keep you posted.

Hanuman

Air Asia has been trying to bargain a deal for moving back to the old air port for a few months. Air Asia want sole use of the whole terminal 1 but that's not going to happen. Several Thai Airways domestic flight will be move as well to alleviate the congestion at Suvarnabhumi. A few airlines will restart international flights from Don Muaeng.

I suggest you wait for the official air line announcement and the moving process will most likely take several weeks before it happens.

Hanuman

News from March: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...or-b60m-revamp

Latest: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busi...-30184854.html

Again as not to cause any confusion wait for the official airline news releases from both Air Asia and Thai Airways.

Kathie

Thanks for the "heads up" both of you.

MichaelBKK

I note the Post article says AirAisa has dropped their demand for exclusive use of T1. Everyone will share T1 until it's full.

Neither article mentions Thai. Seems the focus is on budget carriers, and if AirAsia moves that makes a lot of space at Swampy. Maybe Thai Smile will move to DMK and Thai will stay at BKK.

rhkkmk

a travel site i suscribe to says all AA flt operations will be moved by oct 1.

simpsonc510

I'll be interested in this. Pls keep us posted!

Hanuman

Didn't you guys get an email from Air Asia today? They have confirmed moving.

I believe the total number of airlines that will operate from Don Muang will be around 10, perhaps up to 17.

Hanuman

Here you go: http://www.airasia.com/th/en/corpora...ssrelease.page

brendafaye

Any idea what the transfer time may be between a domestic Bangkok Airways flight arriving Suvarnabhumi and an international Air Asia (to Yangon) flight out of Don Muaeng?

Hanuman

Once you are out of the door of Suvarnabhumi airport, assuming Bangkok Airways is not moving as well, then I estimate 30 - 45 minutes by car to Don Muang.

MichaelBKK

Personally, I'd be uncomfortable with anything less than three hours between landing time at one airport and departure time at the other.

rhkkmk

me too

mcbeanie

Confused! Will all of AA's flights ~~ domestic and international ~~ move to DM? Or, will international remain at BKK?

Thanks.

Sandra

Hanuman

All of their flights will be moving Sandra.

mcbeanie

Thanks. This lets us plan a little better for the fall.

Sandra

PogmahonBKK

Bad move. Air Asia just lost a least one customer, thats me! Don Muang is very inconvenient and there are no flight connections with major international airlines. To get from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi is a nightmare and the quoted 45 minutes travel wishful thinking. Depending on the time of the day 1 1/2 to 2 hours is more realistic!!! I was using Air Asia 3 to 4 times a month to BKK, now I will switch to Thai Airways. Price difference is not that much if you calculate the travel expenses to/from Suvarnabhumi and consider the waste of time.....

MichaelBKK

That's one way to look at it, but I can also see from AirAsia's viewpoint, moving to DMK helps them to keep you flying with them. Regionally, they fly just about everywhere so they can be a reasonable choice. (Oh, and FYI in case you didn't know, they have a transfer service if you are making connections.) Don't forget, AirAsia has the highest percent of income that comes from non-flight sources, so having a whole airport more or less to themselves helps them to keep that up (and it's probably why they wanted exclusive use of one of DMK's terminals). I expect they'll operate a shuttle service between DMK and BKK for those who need it. Yeah, it won't be free.

I flew AirAsia this morning to Hat Yai, and they announced twice during the flight that they were moving to DMK on 1 October so it seems they're pretty committed to this.

One thing I wonder is, if once they move they might start flying to Siem Reap. Contrary to popular belief, there's nothing that gives Bangkok Airways exclusivity over that route. Thai AirAsia can fly there if they want to, and as they're now also a listed company, I wonder how much longer they can continue to 'respect' Bangkok Airways and not compete with them.

PogmahonBKK

Moving to DMK won't keep me flying with them, like many others I know, since Air Asia is not flying long haul to Europe ,US and Australia like I need to do!

The "feeder function" will be gone, unfortunately!!! Lot's of people I know use Air Asia to connect to their main hub Kuala Lumpur and on to Australia. That will be history! My guess is that's up to 30 % of their customers.

Let's see... sooner or later I expect them back at Suvarnabhumi.....

Kathie

Michael, if Air Asia was to start flying to Siem Reap, that would keep them in business for sure. I thought there were issues about why Bangkok Air was the only carrier flying between Bangkok and Siem Reap... if they don't have exclusive rights, why hasn't Thai taken on the route?

The move will change travel plans for many people who fly into Bangkok to hop a flight to Yangon. The international connections will be much more complex.