Air Transport

Thailand’s military government is considering reopening Bangkok’s old Don Muang airport to ease the burden on the new Suvarnabhumi airport, which is already operating at or near capacity at peak times.

Don Muang closed in September when the delayed Suvarnabhumi opened as Thailand’s main gateway to handle both domestic and international traffic. The airport opened a year after its first symbolic landing.

Deputy transport minister Sansern Wongcha-um and other government officials are quoted by local media including the Bangkok Post, as saying studies are underway to determine whether Don Muang should be reopened to handle domestic traffic to ease the burden on Suvarnabhumi, which at peak times is already operating at or near capacity.

The government of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra considered until a year ago keeping Don Muang airport open to handle flights by low-cost airlines but ultimately decided against it. Thaksin was ousted in a bloodless military coup just before Suvarnabhumi opened late in September.

Blog:
Flight Asia editor Nick Ionides was one of the first passengers to fly into Suvarnabhumi on a special Boeng 747-400 flight across town.