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Don Mueang Airport clarifies status of grounded aircraft on flooded runway
The aircraft that were left surrounded by floodwater at
Don Mueang Airport are decommissioned, although some are still usable,
according to airport director Group Captain Kantpat Mangalasiri.
He said post-flood damage estimates and rehabilitation
would be carried out by airlines and related agencies once the water
recedes.
Two Thai Airways International (THAI) Airbus A300-600
parked outside a hangar have water covering their wheels. Capt Kantpat said
both planes were used for over 20 years, decommissioned and are awaiting
resale.
However, 1st Lt Wuttichai Saguanmoo, THAI’s Heavy
Maintenance Department director, said the company had covered the wheelbases
with plastic. The water level is currently higher than the wheelbase, but it
can be reusable as it is made of metal.
He explained that even if the water level rose another
1.5 meters and submerged the aircraft body, no damage will be caused, for it
is built of metal. But he admitted all parts must be reconditioned to be
used again.
Regarding Orient Thai Airlines which also had aircraft at Don Mueang,
Capt Kantpat said all four aircraft were decommissioned, but three of them
remain usable. Their wheelbases are flooded but can be repaired. Further
estimates will be made after the water recedes. (MCOT)
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Bangkok Airways assures continuity of its operation from Suvarnabhumi Airport
Bangkok Airways’ daily operation from and to Suvarnabhumi
Airport is running per normal schedule. The airline’s ticket counter on the 4th
floor at Suvarnabhumi Airport is also open as normal.
Bangkok Airways’ advice and ticket policy during the flood crisis:
1. Ticket(s) purchased for travel between 14 October - 30 November 2011 can be
changed or refunded without charge by calling Bangkok Airways Call Center 1771.
The line opens everyday from 08.00 - 17.30 hrs.
2. Passengers are advised to check-in at least 2 hours for domestic and 3 hours
for international prior departure time.
For more information please contact your nearest travel agent or visit www.
bangkokair.com.
Consumer goods shortages likely to ease this week: Commerce Ministry
Flood-related consumer product and food shortages are
likely to lessen this week, according to Commerce Permanent Secretary
Yanyong Puangrach.
To resolve goods distribution to flood-hit areas, the country’s major
hypermarkets are trying to distribute the products to nearby branches not
affected by the high water, Yanyong said.
As the stores also imported staple food and beverages, including drinking
water, eggs and canned fish, from neighboring countries and sped up
distributing those items to their branches, the senior commerce official
expressed confidence that the shortages will ease from this week onwards.
Meanwhile, flood-caused panic buying in Bangkok is likely to calm down after
this week.
Yanyong admitted that retailers in some areas had raised prices of goods,
particularly eggs and drinking water.
As a result, he ordered provincial commerce officials to closely monitor and
check prices. (MCOT)
Thai bourse postpones overseas road shows awaiting clear flood rehab plan
Thailand’s flood crisis has prompted the Stock Exchange
of Thailand (SET) to postpone its overseas road shows to the year-end, SET
President Charamporn Jotikasthira said on Friday.
The exchange is awaiting clarification from the government on its post-flood
rehabilitation plans and Thai economic conditions, as well as future flood
prevention measures before the bourse will attempt to explain the country’s
investment scene to foreign investors, so that they understand the situation
and regain confidence in Thailand, he said.
The SET has so far responded to their inquiries and notified inquirers that
its trading system remains functional as normal.
Impacts from flooding caused the Thai bourse to delay its plan to attract
leading foreign investors, such as those from Australia, China and Italy, to
invest in Thai stocks because they first need to boost confidence in the
Thai stock trading system, executing orders between brokers and the
country’s basic infrastructure.
He reaffirmed that Thai stock trading volume of foreign investors is still
normal and that it is proceeding in the same direction as other stock
markets in the region. (MCOT)
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Metropolitan Waterworks Authority cuts tap
water production
The Thai capital’s Metropolitan Waterworks Authority on
Wednesday cut tap water production at its Bang Khen plant by 200,000 cubic
meters a day as more time is needed to treat and improve the quality of
water from flood-impacted Khlong Prapa, the city’s main source of drinking
water. The agency said the plant, the MWA’s largest, must
reduce its capacity due to lower levels of dissolved oxygen in its raw water
supply after floodwaters inundated Khlong Prapa.
The cut will result in tap water running low in some
areas.
The agency also asked residents living along Khlong Prapa
to refrain from dismantling the earthen dykes along the canal as the action
would affect tap water production, meaning the MWA would have to further
reduce its volume of production.
In an effort to prevent water flowing into non-flood wall
protection sections of Khlong Prapa, the agency has further strengthened its
flood defense line with 1.6 ton sandbags.
All MWA offices except those in flooded areas are
distributing free drinking water to the public around the clock. (MCOT)
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