Suvarnabhumi Airport is officially open for business

Suvarnabhumi Airport is officially open for business
date:  Saturday December 06, 2008
source:  bangkokpost.com

A tourist is surprised by a Joe Louis Puppet Theatre creation as Suvarnabhumi returned to normal yesterday. SOMCHAI POOMLARD

Their reaction came after a meeting of Thai and international aviation agencies, who inspected the airport yesterday after it was blockaded for eight days from Nov 25 by the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was satisfied with the quick resumption of services at the airport although all flight schedules had still not returned to normal, said Civil Aviation Department chief Chaisak Angsuwan.

The airport, which opened for some local and overseas flights on Thursday, was operating 450 out of a normal 700 flights a day, said airport director Serirat Prasutanond.

The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) told the airport to impose stricter security measures especially on passengers leaving for the US with checks to see if they were carrying hazardous materials.

"The TSA commented that Suvarnabhumi airport has the best equipment, but working procedures do not match this, so officials could not make full use of it," said Mr Serirat.

The Civil Aviation Department yesterday gave a certification on airport safety to Mr Serirat to open the airport officially at 11am. Traditional dances and music as well as a show by the Joe Louis puppet troupe, entertained passengers during the opening ceremony.

Transport Minister Santi Promphat said passengers safety measures at the airport have reached 100% and all services were meeting international standards.

"United Airlines will leave [this morning] for the US. This shows the US is also confident in our safety standards," Mr Santi said.

Don Mueang airport reopened on Wednesday.