Don Mueang Airport fully operational

Thai Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan has announced that Don Mueang Airport will officially be fully operational for budget airlines October 1.
He said Airports of Thailand (AoT) and the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (ART) have given assurances that their operational systems and personnel are completely ready for full-fledged business, accommodating 60 flights per hour or an average of 250 flights per day.
Don Mueang will take at least 12 million passengers per year, he added.
Thai AirAsia, the biggest low-cost airline in Thailand, will move its equipment to Don Mueang on Sept 30 midnight after its last flight takes off from Suvarnabhumi Airport.
AoT president Anirut Thanomkulabutra said facilities at Don Mueang Airport including general and duty free shops will be fully operational on October 1.
In addition to Thai AirAsia, Don Mueang Airport serves Nok Air, Orient Thai and chartered flights, he said, adding that Don Mueang will become another connecting hub for the region. (MCOT)
 

Three-fourths of SMEs don’t trust Govt’s flood management plan: Survey

The latest poll by the Dhurakij Pundit University Research Center (DPU Poll) indicated that three-fourths of small and medium-sized enterprises do not trust the government’s flood management plan.

Centre director Kiatanan Luankaew said the survey on the readiness and preparedness on flood situations of SMEs was conducted Sept 13-17 among 418 entrepreneurs directly impacted by last year’s floods in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, and Ayutthaya.
The centre conducted a similar survey once before, in February this year.
More than half the respondents, 55 percent, said they do not quite believe the government’s ability to manage flood, 19 percent said they do not at all.
One in five - 20 percent - do trust the government, but only four percent said they trust it completely.
Of all four groups, about 75 percent have a negative attitude towards the government’s ability to deliver its promises, an increase of 23 percent compared to the previous poll earlier this year.
On their readiness to deal with possible floods, more than 60 percent said they have plans for the situation, while the rest said they don’t. About 90 percent of those with plans said they have started preparing for future floods already.
Regarding on how they prepare themselves for floods, 53 percent said they have started backing up data of their companies and their clients, while about half said they have reserved cash. Thirty-five percent said they have moved electric wires, electric equipment and tools and machinery to higher ground.
Kiatanan said SME entrepreneurs have learned lessons from last year. However, their ability to cope with future floods is limited. The government should have good measures and an effective water management plan in order to alleviate possible problems.
Also, government must realize the confidence of the business sector on its ability to deal with floods reflects a confidence index on political stability as well.
He added the 23 percent drop in confidence is a signal the government should not overlook.
It should understand businesspeople do not give importance to how the government said it can ‘handle’ the situation, but how it actually manages the water situation and whether the flood management is worth its Bt350 billion budget. (MCOT)