Thai Airways International gears up for Suvarnabhumi Migration

Thai Airways International is gearing up to migrate the company’s six main activities to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The six main activities are: Cargo and Mail Commercial, Ground Support Equipment Services, Catering Services, Aircraft Maintenance Center, Customer Services, and Operations Center. These six activities need to migrate in time for the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport on 28 September 2006, whereby 1.8 million pieces will be moved.

Objects to be transferred have been separated into 9 groups (mentioned below), transported by large trucks, including 10-wheelers and container vehicles, with around 2,200 trips, in addition to 800 service vehicles that THAI will transfer in 3 periods, those being:

Pre-Transfer Period

Transfer equipment that does not effect everyday operations, such as office equipment and spare parts that are not used regularly, with migration to begin in August 2006 with approximately 1,248 trips.

Critical Transfer Period

Transfer equipment used in everyday flight operations, such as ground support equipment services, cargo, and catering services, utilizing not over 6 hours with approximately 1,086 trips.

Post Transfer Period

Transfer equipment that may be moved after the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport, such as aircraft spare parts and equipment used in the parking bay, with approximately 595 trips.

There are 6 routes used in traveling between Bangkok International Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport, as follows:

Route 1: Vibhavadi – Don Muang (tollway) – Expressway 2 – Motorway – Suvarnabhumi
Route 2: Vibhavadi – Laksi – Ramindra – East Ringroad – Motorway – Suvarnabhumi
Route 3: Paholyothin – Laksi – Ramindra – East Ringroad – Motorway – Suvarnabhumi
Route 4: Paholyothin – Lumluka – East Ringroad – Motorway – Suvarnabhumi
Route 5: Vibhavadi – Expressway 1 – Burapavitee Expressway– Gingkaew Road – Suvarnabhumi
Route 6: Vibhavadi – Expressway 1 – Burapavitee Expressway – Suvarnabhumi

In addition to the transfer of equipment, on the evening of 27 September 2006, THAI will transfer the parking location of its aircraft. A total of 27 aircraft will be flown without passengers from Don Muang’s Bangkok International Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Furthermore, THAI has established a coordination center for migrating operations, public relations center, and press center at THAI’s Operations Center, located at Suvarnabhumi Airport. This coordination center has been set up in order to oversee migration, provide accurate information to the public, and decrease the chance of traffic congestion.

As for the readiness of over 17,000 employees who will migrate to Suvarnabhumi Airport, the company has provided training sessions to aid in familiarizing employees with their new work environment. In addition, the company has provided various means of assistance to employees, whereby they will receive the same benefits as extended in Don Muang, which includes return trip employee bus transportation, medical office, and housing facilitation. The National Housing Authority has assisted in arranging a real estate project for employees to purchase at special prices. The company has also provided assistance to employees whose children must transfer schools in their parents’ move to Suvarnabhumi. In addition, the company has prepared a work manual, map of various offices, telephone numbers, road plan, and other useful information for employees.

As for readiness in the area of construction and system integration in buildings, Mr. Chokchai Panyayong, Vice President, Project Development at the New Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabhumi), Thai Airways International, said that construction of all buildings for THAI’s six activities was completed in March 2005. Currently, information systems are being installed, while interior decoration for Ground Support Equipment Services, Aircraft Maintenance Center, and Cargo and Mail Commercial buildings are complete and ready for operations. Interior decoration for Customer Services, which is located in the passenger terminal, as well as Catering Services and Operations Center, will be complete in August 2006, ready to serve the public in time for the airport’s opening.

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