Gaybutton Posted December 22, 2006 Posted December 22, 2006 The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Don Muang May be Re-Opened: Official The government is considering reopening Bangkok's old international airport, just three months after it closed to make way for the much-heralded Suvarnabhumi airport, an official said Thursday. Chiaisak Angkasuwan, director general of the civil aviation department, said there was a chance commercial flights would resume at Don Muang airport because of unsolved problems at Suvarnabhumi, which means 'golden land' in Thai. "We are considering reopening Don Muang airport as problems at Suvarnabhumi airport have yet to be resolved due to poor management," said Chiaisak. "Don Muang could be reopened for domestic flights and those of low-cost airlines, but I could not say when," he told AFP. The decades-old Don Muang closed its operations on September 28 when all commercial flights moved to Suvarnabhumi airport, which the government boasted would be Southeast Asia's largest aviation hub. But almost three months after opening, the new airport has lingering problems led by inadequate bathrooms and seating areas, dirtiness and safety concerns for female flight attendants, who have complained of sexual harassment by construction workers at the site. Low-cost airline operators have asked airport officials to let them move back to Don Muang, saying the new airport has become congested and their costs rose after relocation to Suvarnabhumi. Agence France-Presse Quote
