New Bangkok International becoming a Reality(Pix)

[Royal]

New Bangkok International Airport Becoming a Reality(Pix)
Sat 1st Oct 2005

Suvarnabhumi Airport has finally actually had aircraft land there in test flights, 2 Wednesday and 1 Thursday, all successful.
Long derided as "Cobra Swamp Airport" for the simple reason the site was a cobra-infested swamp in decades gone by, according to really old Old Thai Hands the progress of the facility has been long, winding, plagued with all sorts of problems, torturous, but is finally showing signs of bearing fruit.

The flights was particularly significant, in terms of public relations. A Thai Airways Boeing 747 carrying Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and dozens of luminaries from both the public and private sectors departed Bangkok's current international airport, Don Muang Airport, for the short flight to Suvarnabhumi Airport, a flight meant to show confidence and to garner public support, despite numerous controversies and delays.
It was meant to be the official opening of the airport, and though it's still quite a way from being ready to handle regular traffic, it was important, in the Asian universe, that planes be seen landing and taking off from there if for no other reason than that of face. In fact, before yesterday was set as the official opening, it was hoped its opening would coincide with Her Majesty the Queen's birthday this past August 12th, but that plan finally had to be abandoned as being simply beyond possibility.

if other mass transit goals can be met, some including transportation from other directions, for the airport can be implemented, a lot of people will find the new airport more convenient than the current one, which is served by a single railway line (and not very conveniently at that) as far as mass transit goes.
I don't know if the Prime Minister's dream of making Bangkok the transportation hub of Southeast Asia will ever be realized, but given that the new airport will be able to handle many more passengers per year than the current one, it certainly should bring considerable economic benefit to Thailand in general, and to the area along the Bangkok-Chon Buri-Pattya/Jomtien axis in particular.

At present, the new airport should become fully operational sometime next year, barring further delays .

[Royal]

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