More Airport Confusion

[Gaybutton]

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

_____

 

THAI to Transfer Most Local Flights to Nok Air

 

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

 

Thai Airways International (THAI) will transfer most domestic services to its no-frills subsidiary Nok Air and focus on international flights in response to the government's policy to reopen Don Muang as Bangkok's second international airport. THAI president Apinan Sumanaseni said the board agreed on Thursday to transfer non-connecting domestic flights, which made up the majority of its domestic services, to Nok Air at Don Muang in order to minimize costs of the return of its domestic service to the airport.

 

THAI will retain only domestic flights that connect with international ones for operation at Suvarnabhumi airport and will emphasize international services.

 

Mr. Apinan said THAI's management will conclude the transfer plan after determining exactly which airlines will return to Don Muang. The plan will include aircraft acquisition for Nok Air, which is now THAI's ''fighting brand''.

 

THAI vice-president for commerce Wallop Bhukkanasut said the government's policy to operate Don Muang for both domestic and international flights had prompted THAI to adjust its marketing strategy, especially to compete with no-frills Thai AirAsia which offers both domestic and international flights.

 

Udom Tantiprasongchai, chief executive officer of Orient Thai Airlines, said yesterday he would protest against the government's policy because it favored Thai AirAsia. He said he would investigate the shareholding and business of Thai AirAsia.

 

Thai AirAsia reportedly plans to expand at Don Muang airport which is said to be more flexible for low-cost airlines.

 

Civil Aviation Department director-general Chaisak Angsuwan said discussions with airline representatives on traffic sharing between Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports had to wait for the conclusion of the plan to repair Suvarnabhumi airport. Tortrakul Yomnak, a board member of Airports of Thailand Plc, will announce this on Monday.

 

Brian Sinclair-Thompson, chairman of Thailand Board of Airlines, yesterday called on the government to speed up its study into problems at Suvarnabhumi airport and come up with a clear time frame for the airport's repairs.

 

''We are confused by mixed information regarding the condition of Suvarnabhumi airport,'' he said. ''We don't know if the airport will be closed for repair and for how long. An accurate report is urgently needed to help the airliners make the right decision on whether they should return to Don Muang airport.''