As AirAsia is preparing to move its flights to Don Muang on October 1st, Thailand’s aviation authorities accelerate the renovation of the airport to commercial aviation’s use.
BANGKOK- Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong announced on Wednesday to local media that Bangkok Don Muang airport – the ‘historical’ airport of the Thai capital- will reopen for commercial aviation on August 1st and not on October 1st as earlier planned. “After its opening, Don Mueang airport will become another important source of revenue for the country, in addition to Suvarnabhumi airport,” Mr Kittiratt said. Terminal 2, which was due to remain closed for an indefinite time after floods damaged heavily the building will then be able to welcome other low cost carriers as well as domestic flights.
Don Muang Airport was for over 30 years Bangkok’s main international gateway until Suvarnabhumi opened its doors in 2006. At the height of its activity, Don Muang received 35.78 million passengers in financial year 2005. In financial year 2007, just after the opening of the new airport, total passengers traffic had declined already by 84.7% to reach only 4.80 million passengers. Last year the airport welcomed 3.97 million passengers, up by 44% from 2010 with 2.76 million passengers. For the first five months of 2012, total passengers is however down by 49% due to the total closure of the airport between November and March, following heavy flooding on the runway and inside the terminals building at the end of last year.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
