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BANGKOK - Thailand's Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) decided last night not to renew an international safety certificate for Bangkok's Suvarnagbhumi Airport - the latest setback for Thailand's brand new international gateway.
The move will shake the confidence of international and domestic airlines, already rocked by allegations of corruption in the awarding of contracts for the construction of the airport.
It opened last September and cost over A$4 billion ($4.49 billion) - and DCA Director-General Chaisak Angkasuwan conceded last night the move would further shake the confidence of both carriers and airline passengers.
And to further erode passenger confidence, Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has warned travellers to expect further "inconveniences" because of an ongoing investigation into over 100 cracks which dot the airfield.
The move follows reports yesterday that one of the two main runways at Suvarnagbhumi had to be closed for several hours on Thursday because dangerous cracks had been found on runways and taxiways.
The hub airport has been plagued with problems since it opened four months ago, with passengers complaining about a lack of restrooms, leaks in the roofing, faulty access doors, and problems with baggage carousels.
The DCA had been scheduled either to issue a permanent Aerodrome Certificate for Suvarnabhumi yesterday, or renew an interim document awarded on July 25.
Instead it opted to postpone the decision. The DCA certificate assures that the airport meets the standards of the UN International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Chaisak said they would wait until Thailand passed a law requiring all airports to meet ICAO standards, and then reassess the situation at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
"Getting the certificate is not legally binding so Suvarnabhumi can operate without it," Chaisak said.
Airports of Thailand (AoT) has set up an independent panel to investigate that problem, and it has two weeks to report its recommendations.
- AAP
