First International Flights at Suvarnabhumi Going Smoothly So Far

[Gaybutton]

To me, one glitch is the transiteration of the name of the airport itself. The name of the airport is spelled Suvarnabhumi, and yet it is pronounced "soo-wanna-poom." I wonder who came up with English version of the spelling . . .

 

According to the following article, you do indeed have to take a shuttle bus from the arrival hall to another location to get a bus or a taxi. I have a feeling there will be enough passenger complaints so that sooner or later changes will be made, but for now that's what to expect.

 

I don't get it. The designers of a brand new airport configured things so that after long-haul international flights people end up having to take a shuttle bus? What a ridiculous idea. I have one question for those who came up with that idea and those who accepted that idea. WHY?

 

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

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Few Glitches as Flights Land, Take Off from New Airport

 

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

 

Many passengers taking international flights into Suvarnabhumi airport for the first time yesterday were satisfied with the service despite spotting certain glitches. Thai Airways International (THAI) deployed its 389-seater Boeing 747 to operate a return flight to Hong Kong and a 247-seater Airbus 300-600 to serve a return flight to Singapore yesterday.

 

The flights departed almost simultaneously at 9.10am. They took off using the western and eastern runways, proving Suvarnabhumi's ability to handle activity on both runways at the same time.

 

The flight to Hong Kong carried 361 passengers and 240 pieces of luggage while the Singapore flight had 206 passengers and 165 bags. Most passengers were Transport Ministry staff and their relatives on a THAI-arranged package tour.

 

The return flights from Hong Kong and Singapore also landed at Suvarnabhumi around the same time, at 3.55pm.

 

Caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal said the airport systems worked smoothly.

 

Departing passengers took 20 minutes each to get through passport checks while it took only four minutes for each arriving passenger to pass immigration.

 

Commenting on service in the passenger terminal, THAI president Apinan Sumanaseni said indoor signs were not clear enough. They could delay flights when Suvarnabhumi opens to full commercial service on Sept 28. People may not be able to find their way around.

 

Unyalak Jintanavisit, a passenger on one flight, said the terminal would need more signs as many passengers were confused about directions.

 

Duangjai Kitisin, a state enterprise employee, said the airport was a cause of national pride although the shuttle service was still a problem. Passengers had to take shuttle buses from the arrival hall to a separate terminal to catch a bus and taxi.

 

Paramee Muangcharoen, who piloted the Singapore flight, said Suvarnabhumi was better than Singapore's Changi airport. The runways were smoother and longer.

 

Ahead of its full-scale opening on Sept 28, Suvarnabhumi will undergo the first full-scale test of its conveyor belt system on Sept 7. All 460 check-in counters will be tested with 10,000 pieces of luggage being put through check-in.

 

Piti Ramasoot, THAI director for service delivery, said the bags of departing passengers were handled smoothly yesterday.