| The Thai government is moving some | | | | and security problems. The government |
| domestic flights back to Bangkok's old | | | | had already planned to spend a million |
| Don Muang Airport, to allow cracks in | | | | dollars to make up for an inadequate |
| the taxiways at the four-month-old, $4 | | | | number of toilets. |
| billion Suvarnabhumi Airport to be | | | | Albert Tjoeng, spokesman for the |
| repaired. Ron Corben reports from | | | | Singapore-based International Air |
| Bangkok. | | | | Transport Association, says the |
| The Thai Cabinet agreed Tuesday to the | | | | necessity to reopen Don Muang is a |
| transfer of some domestic flights back | | | | setback to Thailand's hopes. |
| to Don Muang Airport. The Transport | | | | "To groom Bangkok as an aviation hub the |
| Ministry had proposed the move so as to | | | | long term, vision should be to have all |
| relieve pressure on newly opened | | | | commercial flights operating out of one |
| Suvarnabhumi Airport and allow repairs | | | | airport," Tjoeng said. "Two airports |
| to be made there. | | | | will dampen Bangkok's potential for |
| Ground subsidence and cracking along the | | | | becoming an aviation hub in the region." |
| taxiways have led to 11 air gates at the | | | | The Cabinet has recommended the |
| new airport being closed. The resulting | | | | reopening of 90-year-old Don Muang |
| backup has led to several flights being | | | | Airport only as a temporary measure. But |
| delayed, or diverted to the old Thai air | | | | officials estimate that repairs at the |
| force base at Utapao, 150 kilometers to | | | | new airport will take up to 18 months to |
| the southeast. | | | | complete, and will cost as much as $1.5 |
| The new airport was officially opened | | | | billion. |
| last September, just a week after a | | | | The transfer to the old airport by |
| military coup ousted then-Prime Minister | | | | domestic carriers is expected to take up |
| Thaksin Shinawatra from office. | | | | to 60 days. |
| The Thaksin government had high hopes | | | | Thailand's Department of Civil Aviation, |
| for Suvarnabhumi. Mr. Thaksin was | | | | meanwhile, has decided not to renew |
| hoping to portray it as a government | | | | Suvarnabhumi's international safety |
| success story as general elections were | | | | certificate until repairs have been |
| held at the end of 2006. Officials were | | | | completed. The airport is able to |
| predicting it would help turn Thailand | | | | operate legally without the certificate. |
| into a major regional aviation center. | | | | On top of everything else, Suvarnabhumi |
| But the elections were delayed by the | | | | figures prominently into an |
| coup, and the airport has been plagued | | | | investigation by the military-installed |
| by problems from the start, including | | | | interim government into possible |
| poor lighting, difficult-to-read signs, | | | | corruption during Mr. Thaksin's tenure. |