INSIDE AIR TRAVEL
Star Alliance carriers to continue using Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi in show of support for Thai Airways.Star Alliance members (Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Austrian Arrows, bmi British Midland, Lauda Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, Swiss International, TAP Portugal, Thai Airways, United Airlines, US Airways) will continue to use Thailand's new Suvarnabhumi airport despite plans to reopen Bangkok's old Don Muang airport.
All domestic and international carriers, including home carrier and Star Alliance member Thai Airways, moved to the new airport in September. But some Thai carriers, particularly the low-cost airlines, have been lobbying the military government to reopen Don Muang as a low-cost carrier hub. The government has also been urged to close Suvarnabhumi for repairs after cracks appeared on its taxi ways and runways.
"We fully endorse the policy of our home carrier and founding member, Thai Airways International, to retain its hub operations at Suvarnabhumi airport,‰ says Star Alliance chief executive Jan Albrecht. "By moving together under one roof at the new Suvarnabhumi airport, Star Alliance carriers have signaled their joint intention to offer fast and comfortable connections and services in safe, modern and passenger-pleasing facilities."
Apinan Sumanaseni, Thai Airways President, says that the decision says the decision will allow Star Alliance members to provide airport services such as check-in and lounges from the same terminal. "By remaining at Suvarnabhumi airport, the member carriers will be able to continue to provide the best in convenient service to Star Alliance passengers for maximum flight connectivity.."
Star Alliance says that reopening Don Muang could "potentially disrupt connections for Star Alliance customers traveling through Bangkok". It adds that its member carriers in Thailand operate around 1,000 flights per week out of Bangkok, representing 47.2% of all international seats.
IATA, the Intern. Air transport Assoc., has already expressed opposition to having two airports serving the Thai capital. The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has also said that the additional costs of reopening the airport and operating two facilities will impose "an extra burden on airlines and the traveling public in terms of higher fares".
Feb. 16
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