new airport first inter flights

[aussie dollar]

Day-One Trial Flights a Success

Four international flights conducted Friday at Suvarnabhumi Airport as trial runs for the new facility were completed successfully, according to officials.

Earlier in the day, two flights departed safely from Suvarnabhumi to Singapore and Hong Kong and landed at their respective destinations later in the day. A second set of planes were used on a return trip from the same locations, arriving in the capital in the afternoon.

The tests were being conducted prior to the commencement of the new airport's international services on Sept 28.

Officials used the opportunity on Thursday to test the simultaneous use of both runways during incoming and departing flights. After landing in Bangkok, passengers went through normal international arrival procedures.

Mr Chotisak Asapaviriya, President of Airports of Thailand Public Co., Ltd. (AOT), said the take-off and landing procedures were so smooth that the pilots could not have done a better job.

Next week officials will test the land transportation system between Bangkok's downtown areas and the new airport. The AOT will accelerate public relations campaigns to disseminate information about the airport commute.

As for complaints that travelling to Suvarnabhumi may be difficult because the subway is yet in service, Chotisak said it should not cause too much of a problem with other mass transportation options available.

He cited South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, which is 65 km from Seoul’s city centre and does not have an electric train service.

TNA 2006-09-02

[aussie dollar]

Check-in system sputters in test

Modern' machines spit out blank boarding passes and luggage tags, yet trial is hailed as an unqualified success

Less than three weeks before its opening, Suvarnabhumi Airport's check-in system is not yet complete. It failed to print boarding passes and baggage tags during tests in front of representatives from 23 airlines yesterday.

Still, the airlines said they happy with the overall demonstration results, saying that the system was more modern and would be less time-consuming than at Don Muang airport.

Moreover, say airport representatives, there is still ample time to correct the problems that were evident yesterday before the airport will be officially opened on September 28.

According to Sopin Daengteth, chairman of the Airline Operators Committee (AOC), which represents more than 65 airlines and associated bodies, only 23 airlines that have completed their own information technology systems participated in the testing yesterday, which was organised by Airports of Thailand (AOT), which runs the Kingdom's main airports.

"Others were absent because they could not yet complete their own check-in systems," she said, noting that the system was not yet ready though many airlines had started testing individually in March.

Among the missing airlines were Swiss Air, Scandinavian Airlines and FinnAir.

They have not yet completed their own IT systems, which was developed by information technology firm SITA.

Many airlines were absent from the testing because they could not spare any employees from their current operations at Don Muang airport. So far, SITA has confirmed with the airlines that it will complete the IT installation next Monday September 11. Then operators can conduct tests individually.

During the first official check-in system test yesterday, luggage tags and boarding passes could not be printed out at several points, including the Thai Airways International (THAI) counter.

The airlines had to address the problem by hand writing all passenger information on tags and boarding passes instead of using the computerised system.

"Still, overall, we are happy with the result," said Sopin.

Sopin also said that the official opening of the new airport would be on schedule although some airlines have decided to cancel flights on September 27 and 28 to avoid confusion.

"We believe that the airport will iron out the problems before the opening date of September 28," she said.

AOC and AOT plan to hold another test at the passenger gates soon.

Chaiwat Wararaj, area station manager of Austrian Airlines, said the airport check-in system was ready. Chaiwat said he did not see any serious troubles in the check-in test yesterday, noting that airlines will be happy with the new technology.

Somchai Sawasdeepon, director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said that tests have been ongoing since the beginning of this year.

The new system is called Common Use Terminal Equipment - or CUTE - which can work at all 460 counters at the same time.

Somchai said the airport would use the test results to improve service for both airlines and passengers.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation 2006-09-08

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by aussie dollar

Check-in system sputters in test

Modern' machines spit out blank boarding passes and luggage tags, yet trial is hailed as an unqualified success

Less than three weeks before its opening, Suvarnabhumi Airport's check-in system is not yet complete. It failed to print boarding passes and baggage tags during tests in front of representatives from 23 airlines yesterday.

Still, the airlines said they happy with the overall demonstration results, saying that the system was more modern and would be less time-consuming than at Don Muang airport.

Moreover, say airport representatives, there is still ample time to correct the problems that were evident yesterday before the airport will be officially opened on September 28.

According to Sopin Daengteth, chairman of the Airline Operators Committee (AOC), which represents more than 65 airlines and associated bodies, only 23 airlines that have completed their own information technology systems participated in the testing yesterday, which was organised by Airports of Thailand (AOT), which runs the Kingdom's main airports.

"Others were absent because they could not yet complete their own check-in systems," she said, noting that the system was not yet ready though many airlines had started testing individually in March.

Among the missing airlines were Swiss Air, Scandinavian Airlines and FinnAir.

They have not yet completed their own IT systems, which was developed by information technology firm SITA.

Many airlines were absent from the testing because they could not spare any employees from their current operations at Don Muang airport. So far, SITA has confirmed with the airlines that it will complete the IT installation next Monday September 11. Then operators can conduct tests individually.

During the first official check-in system test yesterday, luggage tags and boarding passes could not be printed out at several points, including the Thai Airways International (THAI) counter.

The airlines had to address the problem by hand writing all passenger information on tags and boarding passes instead of using the computerised system.

"Still, overall, we are happy with the result," said Sopin.

Sopin also said that the official opening of the new airport would be on schedule although some airlines have decided to cancel flights on September 27 and 28 to avoid confusion.

"We believe that the airport will iron out the problems before the opening date of September 28," she said.

AOC and AOT plan to hold another test at the passenger gates soon.

Chaiwat Wararaj, area station manager of Austrian Airlines, said the airport check-in system was ready. Chaiwat said he did not see any serious troubles in the check-in test yesterday, noting that airlines will be happy with the new technology.

Somchai Sawasdeepon, director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said that tests have been ongoing since the beginning of this year.

The new system is called Common Use Terminal Equipment - or CUTE - which can work at all 460 counters at the same time.

Somchai said the airport would use the test results to improve service for both airlines and passengers.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation 2006-09-08

I only want to know one thing. How much is the taxi fare to/from Bangkok?

[aussie dollar]

DECENT MAPS OF AIRPORT

Untitled Document

[stevem]

Originally Posted by aussie dollar

Mr Chotisak Asapaviriya, President of Airports of Thailand Public Co., Ltd. (AOT), said the take-off and landing procedures were so smooth that the pilots could not have done a better job.

What a stupid bloody comment to make.

[Lightemup]

CNN's traveller magazine or something has a special on the new airport airing tonight/today depending on your timezone.

[landofsmiles]

I was passing the new airport as one of the first flights came in to land and managed to take this pic of it.

[Crustasian]

Articles in todays Bangkok Post from "concerned managers" admit that it is no where near ready to take on the job.

My advice - if coming to Phuket come via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur until things are sorted.

[Petter]

Yes its was on my mind to,next trip is booked with Singapore Airlinesvia Singapore. Ended up to be cheapest too

They would normally need a couple og months to get the system 100% up to date,and when you now we go in to the most busy time of year its best to stay away

[Petter]

Some videos Don Muang to New Airport test flights

YouTube - Suvarnabhumi Test Flight Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwMSqH4Qeb8
YouTube - Suvarnabhumi Test Flight Part 3
YouTube - Suvarnabhumi Test Flight Part 4
YouTube - Suvarnabhumi Airport Opening Video (2005)
_________________

[mars]

Originally Posted by JayBee

I only want to know one thing. How much is the taxi fare to/from Bangkok?

I read on another forum the other day, An expat working in Bangkok went down to the airport for a day out and the taxi fare from the centre cost him B185.

[mars]

Well D day is here

The new airport should be up and running for some airlines as of today.

Just found this site which gives a lot of info on Transport, airport hotel etc.

Looks like you can get a taxi from level 2 arrivals or catch a bus to another pick up point and the airport bus to downtown stops outside arrivals.


Suvarnabhumi Airport | New Bangkok Airport Guide


According to the plan the first flight should have taken off 10 minutes ago

[Aeron]

So Eva Air flights from London, UK to Bangkok BKK (and vice versa) will also go to this new airport from 28th Sep. 2006, right ?

[stevem]

Originally Posted by Aeron

So Eva Air flights from London, UK to Bangkok BKK (and vice versa) will also go to this new airport from 28th Sep. 2006, right ?

Every airline, every flight

[faultytowers]

Thai Air has just updated their web-site , there is a lot of info about the new airport which may be useful to BM's. At the bottom of the "General Information" page there is a link to download a pdf. leaflet showing all the various areas.

Travel and destination Information

[greatshape]

Has anyone info on how to get to Pattaya?
What are the possibilities and prices?
bus? taxi? prices?

Many tnx
Steve

[slinggalin]

A search on transportatio Greatshape will get you all the info you need. But it usually depends on mode of transpo and where you book. from nana plaza hotel the fee is generally 400-450 baht one way per person in the daily van

[slinggalin]

Originally Posted by JayBee

I only want to know one thing. How much is the taxi fare to/from Bangkok?

You know JayBee, I bet the taxi drivers are already making up new prices from there to surrounding distinations.

[Raydon]

Apologies for hijacking this thread, but through it sounds sorta relevant. Will be in Bangkok in dec. 1st time after the opening of the new airport. Will i be able to flag a taxi at the departure hall just like at don muang in order to save the surcharge? or do i need to go to the taxi stand to get one?

[LivinLOS]

Yes you can..

[KevinW20]

yOU ARE BETTER GOING DOWN ONE FLOOR FROM THE ARRIVAL HALL TO THE TAXI RANK. THE COST FROM THE AIRPORT TO NANA PLAZA AREA SHOULD BE AROUND THB250-300 INCLUDING TOLLWAY FEES DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC.