Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) announced that its Technical Department in Don Mueang has reopened and has resumed normal technical operations.
Mr. Piyasvasti Amranand, THAI President, said the THAI’s Technical Department in Don Mueang has reopened after heavy flooding affected Don Mueang Airport and Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, which resulted in temporary closure as it was not possible to conduct heavy aircraft maintenance from 26 October 2011 until now.
As flood waters have receded and the situation has returned to normal, THAI’s Technical Department in Don Mueang will open for operations beginning today 6 December 2011 and will be ready to conduct all heavy maintenance services starting on 19 December 2011 every day including on public holidays.
The five aircraft that had been undergoing heavy maintenance in the hangar were unaffected by the flooding as they were supported by aircraft equipment in the hangar. The five aircraft include: two Boeing 747-400, one Boeing 777-300, one Boeing 777-300ER, and one Airbus A330-300. One Boeing 747-400 had been undergoing air cargo retrofit that was initially set for completion in March 2012 is now delayed approximately one month. Economy Class seats in the other Boeing 747-400, originally to be finished in December 2011, is now two-months delayed. The other three aircraft, Boeing 777-300, Boeing 777-300ER, and Airbus A330-300, are undergoing normal maintenance with no impact to THAI’s flight planning schedule. For the two Airbus A300-600 aircraft that had been decommissioned from the fleet and were waiting to be sold, THAI’s Technical Department had taken care to securely protect these aircraft and engines in plastic wrap, were found to be in normal conditions.
With regard to some damage at THAI’s Technical Department building at Don Mueang Airport to the electrical system, cooling system, computer equipment, and roads, these can be repaired. Affected areas have been cleaned, renovated, repaired, and flood water properly treated to remain within ISO14001 standards, civil aviation authority safety standards, and international aviation standards.
THAI is in the process of estimating damages to the Technical Department’s operations center, which will be submitted to the relevant insurance company.
THAI continues to serve passengers from Suvarnabhumi Airport and to conduct aircraft maintenance services at THAI’s Technical Department at Suvarnabhumi and THAI’s Technical Department at Utapao, Amphur Sattahip, Cholburi province.
