Scotters

Interesting article in todays Bangkok Post about approval being given to reopening Don Muang to handle domestic flights with no internatiomal connections. Suggested date of March 15 but probably later the way things work in Thailand. Here is the article
http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/12Jan2007_news01.php

rhkkmk

this would be madness for tourists and locals alike!!!

Tangata

Why would it be madness? Many cities have more than one airport -- London and New York to cite two.

If international connections are ruled out, there would seem to be no problem.

It would also help my brother in law who has experienced trouble sleeping since planes stopped flying over his house to land at Don Muang.

Hanuman

Yes it looks like we're going to get Don Muang back and I think that they will use the old Terminal 1 for all the flights there. IMO they should have done this in the first place!

Guenmai

Yeah, there was quite a bit of talk about this when I was there. The new airport is already overcrowded and not enough gates and not enough facilities for airline staff...like eating facilities...etc... Bad planning. Happy Travels!

Bisbee

There is no shortage of gates at Suvarnabhumi. I landed there several weeks ago on Thai at 2pm. Of the 20+ gates I could see, only 3 were occupied. However we were still forced to park at a remote gate.

Hanuman

To "park" a plane at the gate will cost the airline about 80,000 - 100,000 baht. It cost the airline a lot less money to park at a remote location so I guess they're cutting cost.

gard

Hi

I agree with rhkkmk. Yes, some cities have more than one airport but it is no fun having to take a bus from one airport to another when you are flying to your destination. And I can't understand that there is a shortage of gates at Suvarnabhumi...the place is HUGE.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

rhkkmk

madness...how would you like to have to drive to the old airport, in a taxi, to get your onward flight to CM, or phuket after a 20 hour flight from europe or usa/canada.???

nyc and london have both international and domestic flights at both airports...that is the difference..

Hanuman

Bob,

The article in the post stated that the domestic flights often used by tourist to major destinations (Chiang Mai, Phuket etc) will stay at the new airport.

Scotters

The Bangkok National also reported that Thai will move all its domestic flights except those involving Phuket, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen. The budget airlines would move all operations and Air Asia wants to move both domestic and international routes back to the old airport.

Lindsey

Yipes....This is NOT good news for me!

We are booked to go to Chiang Rai in mid April. Taking SQ from Singapore to BKK and then Air Asia up to CR and back. At the moment we have enough time between flights....we plan to carry on our baggage on SQ as we are only going for 3 nights. If they move Air Asia flights back to the old airport, we could be in trouble.

I'm guessing the airport authority will have to set up shuttles fi they do that. Does anyone have a guess as to how long it would take to get between the two?

Would anyone who gets news about this issue please be sure to keep this post updated? Thanks!!