Thai Airways stops Don Muang flights

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Thai Airways moves all flights to Suvarnabhumi

From Bangkok Post March 6, 2009

THAI to leave Don Mueang airport
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 6/03/2009 at 11:31 AM Thai Airways International (THAI) will move all of its flights from Don Mueang airport to Suvarnabhumi airport, starting on March 29, the airline's acting president, Baribgsaj Sangapong, said on Friday.

He admitted the change could be confusing for foreign travellers who have booked the tickets in advance.

Things would be made clearer at a press conference to be held later today, he said.

During the Songkran festival in April, three aircraft would be at the Don Mueang airport to serve travellers who may be confused about the change of airport.

But afterward, all THAI operations would be shifted to Suvarnabhumi airport, he said.

So for anyone who has booked domestic flights after March 28/09, pay attention to which airport you need to go to fly from!

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Follow up to the story from The Nation March 28, 2009:

All set for THAI's move from Don Mueang
By WATCHARAPONG THONGRUNG
THE NATION
Published on March 28, 2009

Starting tomorrow, Thai Airways International will shift its 46 domestic flight operations at Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Top officials of THAI, Airports of Thailand and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand said all is set for the move, which will end the national flag carrier's operations at Don Mueang.

ACM Narongsak Sangapong, the airline's acting president, said the last flight (to Chiang Mai) would depart from Don Mueang at 10.15pm today.

Serirat Prasutanon, general manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said the number of domestic flights at Suvarnabhumi will rise to a total of 206 with over 31,000 passengers per day.

Besides THAI, Bangkok Airways and Thai Air Asia also operate domestic flights at Suvarnabhumi.

Somchai Thean-anant, president of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, said traffic controllers are now ready to cope with an increase of flights from the current 700 to around 750 resulting from THAI's decision to end its services at Don Mueang.

Currently, THAI operates domestic flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phitsanulok in the north; Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani in the Northeast; and Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Hat Yai and Samui in the south.

Narongsak said: "The move under one roof concept is a major strategy of Star Alliance, of which THAI is a founding member. It is ideal for Suvarnabhumi Airport because it is a single terminal."

"It means we can further consolidate our passenger services, increase traffic flow and efficiency and improve transit times."

Meanwhile, the airline's labour union yesterday submitted a letter to transport minister Sophon Saram, urging the government to review THAI's plan to end its domestic flights at Don Mueang.

"The cost and benefit of moving all flights back to Suvarnabhumi remain unclear, especially in terms of a saving of Bt648 million in operating cost per year. As for passengers, Suvarnabhumi airport's capacity has not yet been increased to serve as the country's single gateway," Chamsri Sukchokerat, the union's president, said.

However, Chaisak Angsuwan, deputy transport permanent secretary, said the plan would go ahead as scheduled.

So for anyone who has booked domestic flights with TG after today, make sure you go to Suvarnabhumi Airport.