Thailand's New Airport Awaits ICAO's Certification

Caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal says he expects the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to approve safety standards at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on July 6, paving the way for commercial operations.

The Civil Aviation Department has already issued an aviation safety certificate for the new airport, Pongsak said. The next step to do is to draw up an operations manual for the ICAO's consideration.

He said he expected the organisation, whose primary concern is international airport safety standards, should give its approval by July 6 at the latest.

"Once this is done we will notify airlines around the world that the new airport is ready. But the official opening date will not be fixed until later," he said.

However, Pongsak admitted some outsourced projects are yet to be completed, though he said most construction works under the government agencies' supervision are nearly complete.

"We expect all systems to be ready for testing in June," he said.

Once all projects are complete the authorities can finalise plans to move personnel and equipment from Bangkok International Airport to the new site.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is scheduled to attend a meeting at the airport tomorrow to speed up construction work.

The airport was originally set to open on September 28, 2005.

However, delayed construction works as well as the scandal over the bomb-detection equipment meant the opening was put back until June, 2006.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation

>