Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - Major delays at BKK

Since the closure of one of the 2 runways at BKK this week, expect some major delays both inbound and outbound.
My flight from MNL yesterday had to circle more than 45 mins over BKK and we ended up more than one hour late.
Beware as this is going to continue for several weeks.
Of course the corrupt and incompetent buffoons at AOT are all over the newspapers denying this , but as usual they are big fat liars.
:mad:

I flew out of BKK to PVG on Sunday and back on Thursday and encountered no delays on either leg.

I'm heading there this Monday. I'll report if there's anything lingering.

The airlines are warning people to expect delays but in reality it seems things are running quite well.

You can see on flightradar24.com (http://www.flightradar24.com/13.83,100.73/9) what's going on in real-time and you can see on flightstats.com that most flights are still on schedule.

The early morning, lunch and early evening times get super-busy sometimes you see 20+ active flights around the aerodrome. Those peak times will get interesting with one runway out of action. Add to that the rain season and it's quite conceivable that there will be delays.

C'est la vie...

For how long will the runway be out of use?

For how long will the runway be out of use?


Closed from 11 June to 10 August 2012.

Flyertalk (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thailand/1352309-aot-cuts-flights-during-runway-repair.html)

Closed from 11 June to 10 August 2012.

Flyertalk (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thailand/1352309-aot-cuts-flights-during-runway-repair.html)

And then they close the other one in good AOT style?

;)

The above is not based on any real evidence, do not take it seriously. (yet)

Globalist

And then they close the other one in good AOT style?

;)

The above is not based on any real evidence, do not take it seriously. (yet)

Globalist

Not exactly. During the latter part of July all runways will be closed and traffic entirely pushed over to DMK.

:p;):D

Flown from SIN to BKK on CX on 16 Jun (Sat), flight was slightly delayed for 10min as we were waiting for clearance to land at around 1500hr+.

Return flight from BKK to SIN on CX on 17 Jun (Sun) took off on time close to 12pm.

As such, based on the recent flights, only minor delay encountered. Hope that it will still this way.

My experience this past weekend:

06/16, Saturday:

TG402, STA 0900: No delay.

TG628, STD 1045: Doors were closed at 1035. Captain advised that we could be waiting for up to 10 mins past the STD due to congestion, but we ended up pushing back early at 1044. Slight wait on the taxiway for take off, but nothing major. Took off at 1104.

06/17, Sunday:

TG601, STA 1425: Flight was about 15 mins early coming in. Made a big circle northeast of the airport followed by some turns here and there. Finally landed at 1425.

TG401, STD 1940: Doors were closed at 1940. Captain advised a 15-mins wait due to congestion. At 1955 came the bad news, we would have to wait for 30-40 mins before we could push back! Finally pushed back at 2020 but didn't took off until more than half an hour later at 2057. Seemed the ATC was holding the departing aircrafts at the gates rather than having them pushed back and waited on the taxiway. The line for take off wasn't long, but there were about 3 landings between each take off.

Our plane had to circle around BKK for about 15 minutes yesterday before allowed to land. But the beautiful thing was that there was not a single person waiting in line at the immigration around 3:20PM. Cabs were readily available and no traffic. BKK to Sukhumvit soi 15 was THB215 on the meter (plus toll/surcharge)

No delay for early afternoon arrival & morning departure from BKK ^

On June 11, the first night of the runway closure, my late night UA flight from NRt had to be diverted to Don Muang shortly before midnight due to an anticipated wait of more than an hour to land at BKK with insufficient fuel. Then sat on the tarmac for a few hours to wait for fuel before flying on to BKK.

due to the ATC problems related to the runway overhaul, TG is currently advising at least 80 min as minimum connecting time between two flights (instead of usually 55 min).

Just as always, the Bangkok airports have always run into huge backlogs when a "VIP" arrives or departs. This means any Royal, the PM, or other paid/pampered Thai VIPs. With the current session of parliament now stopped for summer recess, expect the PM to be in and out of BKK regularly through the coming months.

They usually close a runway down completely (and the highways for the motorcade). But, with only one active runway, this will make for lengthy messes during the VIP activities.

Not much you can do. My clue that this is happening is that ALL flights are delayed, not just some. In these cases, not much you can do but pull out your laptop, grab a drink, and settle in.

There is a story in the United thread Consolidated "Delayed/Cancelled" International Flights (2012) (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1325831-consolidated-delayed-cancelled-international-flights-2012-a.html) about a UA flight that had to land at the other Bangkok-area airport because of repairs. The flight then got back to BKK a few hours late... So it looks lik the runway work will have sporadic impacts.

There is a story in the United thread Consolidated "Delayed/Cancelled" International Flights (2012) (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1325831-consolidated-delayed-cancelled-international-flights-2012-a.html) about a UA flight that had to land at the other Bangkok-area airport because of repairs. The flight then got back to BKK a few hours late... So it looks lik the runway work will have sporadic impacts.

They must have been very low on fuel to go to DMK rather than hold 30 mins for a BKK landing. :confused:

Hey at least they did choose an alternate. Unlike that Avianca flight that was asked to hold and basically ran dry and crashed instead of diverting.

Last night I checked in at Phuket 20:25 for my TG224 21:30 flight to Bangkok connecting TG910 00:25 to London.

"I'll put you on the earlier flight" said the nice lady. "It's just leaving" said I.
"No it won't depart until 22:00 as it was late in."

TG224 duly departed at 22:00 but we were stacked at BKK for 40 minutes and so landed at 00:05

We all sat on TG910 waiting for other connecting passengers until 01:15 and then joined a 20 minute queue for take-off.

On June 11, the first night of the runway closure, my late night UA flight from NRt had to be diverted to Don Muang shortly before midnight due to an anticipated wait of more than an hour to land at BKK with insufficient fuel. Then sat on the tarmac for a few hours to wait for fuel before flying on to BKK.

There is a story in the United thread Consolidated "Delayed/Cancelled" International Flights (2012) (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1325831-consolidated-delayed-cancelled-international-flights-2012-a.html) about a UA flight that had to land at the other Bangkok-area airport because of repairs. The flight then got back to BKK a few hours late... So it looks lik the runway work will have sporadic impacts.

And (s)he posted just a few entries in front of you.

We took TG910 to LHR last night and luckily no major delay. I had expected it'd be a 747, but it turned out to be an Airbus 346 with very cramped First Class cabin.

Slightly off topic, from reading fellow FF's posts....looks like the delay in BKK is similar to MUC..cos I just had 50 min inbound and 90 min outbound delay from MAN to CLT via MUC. Also guess what...so far arriving in FRA or MUC (fr MAN) has always been at a remote gate..sometimes when I am sitting on the other side of the world i think that TG/BKK is not as bad as some of the posts I see on here...

I just had 50 min inbound and 90 min outbound delay .

Although these posts do not comfirm it, they appear to be delaying domestic and regionals rather than long haul, but even so, I must agree, I get delayed more often at other airports

Slightly off topic, from reading fellow FF's posts....looks like the delay in BKK is similar to MUC..cos I just had 50 min inbound and 90 min outbound delay from MAN to CLT via MUC. Also guess what...so far arriving in FRA or MUC (fr MAN) has always been at a remote gate..sometimes when I am sitting on the other side of the world i think that TG/BKK is not as bad as some of the posts I see on here...

This is soooooo true.

I have to go to FRA twice per year and I think that is allready 3 times too much.

:(

Friend flew in on PG from MLE in a hold pattern for over an hour (couldn't believe the A320s could last that long (5hr+).

I took off on Tuesday lunchtime and had 20mib delay approx, no biggy. Would hate to have to transit though. Oh wait, no problem these days as most transits you have to overnight in BKK to get to DMK ;)

Hate to think the fuel costs and carbon footprint of all these planes in hold....

Oh wait, no problem these days as most transits you have to overnight in BKK to get to DMK ;)



I realize that's a tongue in cheek comment, but what's the basis of it?

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/299131/suvarnabhumi-blackout-causes-flight-delays

My flight from NRT was delayed for ~30 min (scheduled arrival 9:25pm). We made 3 circles before landing according to the flight map. The immigration was empty and smooth though. TG922 today is already showing departure time of 2:20pm (scheduled 12:45) due to late a/c arrival :(.

Mrs AN*G reported no delays on TG474 arriving Tue, but connecting onto TG920, doors closed as scheduled, and they sat at the gate for 30 minutes before the Captain came on and advised that they were held up because of runway works. Finally pushed back 45 minutes late, and then apparently seemed to crawl along at a much slower pace than normal to the runway (Mrs AN*G has no interest in matters aviation, but given she is on TG920 at least 4 times a year, I'm sure she's right about the pace). Arrived about 40 minutes late.

Flying HKT-BKK/BKK-FRA tomorrow and hoping that traffic will be lighter being that it is Sunday!

i was on TG693 lax-icn-bkk last week (wed night arrival in bkk) which normally lands around 11:30pm. we landed about 12:30am. 30 min delay to fly around a typhoon near taiwan and another 30 min delay circling bkk due to runway closure.

My son is flying PHU-BKK-LHR on 12th July. He has a 55 minute connection at BKK to catch the TG916 to LHR at 12.25. From all of these posts it doesn't sound very hopeful that he will make the connection - is it likely that they will hold TG916 for connecting passengers?

Was delayed for takeoff at BKK two days in a row, 20 and 21 June, causing departure delays at NRT for the equipment turn, and some missed connections.

My son is flying PHU-BKK-LHR on 12th July. He has a 55 minute connection at BKK to catch the TG916 to LHR at 12.25. From all of these posts it doesn't sound very hopeful that he will make the connection - is it likely that they will hold TG916 for connecting passengers?

I assume all on TG. If so they will wait. See my post #18

I assume all on TG. If so they will wait. See my post #18

Yep all on TG and same PNR - that's a huge relief as he has to catch a flight the next day to BDA which he would miss if he didn't make TG916

CX709 tonight, 35min delay on arrival holding

My son is flying PHU-BKK-LHR on 12th July. He has a 55 minute connection at BKK to catch the TG916 to LHR at 12.25. From all of these posts it doesn't sound very hopeful that he will make the connection - is it likely that they will hold TG916 for connecting passengers?

The only alternative is to be in HKT airport before 7am in the morning and ask them to be boarded on TG 226 which leaves at 7.25 already.
TG currently strongly recommends to plan with 80 min minimum connecting time between flights at BKK until early August.

QR 614 to Hanoi yesterday : 45 minutes late .

Return flight TG 565 HAN-BKK yesterday .
Inbound flight 45 minutes late arriving at HAN .
Thanks to a quick turanaround , we left Hanoi with only 25 mins delay on schedule.
Again circled for 30 minutes over BKK before landing.
Totala damage : 55 minutes late.

Although these posts do not comfirm it, they appear to be delaying domestic and regionals rather than long haul, but even so, I must agree, I get delayed more often at other airports

yea this is strange for Germans standards I know...for me just happened that I just got in from ORD to MUC...and was 90 min delayed, which means that many connecting pax missed their continental connections...maybe this is just pure random maybe not....I don't have all the data to run the stats on the upper and lower control limits nor whether such measurment system is within range :p...but anyhow...for fellow TG ROP fellows...don't try to have a tight connection in MUC that is within 60 min if I am you or your risk to drink lots of cocktails in the SEN lounge is high...

Not TG but.....BAH-BKK (GF) on 28th (arr. 29th) - no significant delays at all arriving in Bangkok. We circled for maybe 5 ninutes outside BKK and then straight in & parked. No lines or delays at domestic transfers & was happily on time on the PG flight to HKT - push back on-time taxied straight out to take-off. A breeze. See how we go on the return in a couple weeks.

Return flight TG 565 HAN-BKK yesterday .
Inbound flight 45 minutes late arriving at HAN .
Thanks to a quick turanaround , we left Hanoi with only 25 mins delay on schedule.
Again circled for 30 minutes over BKK before landing.
Totala damage : 55 minutes late.

It is worse this week, this is causing a few minor tantrums, and have experienced long delays, both landing and taking off. Any transfers are handled better with a 2 hour time frame on, it is less stressful to just sit and read in the lounge than race from one gate to another. Mid evening in the immigration hall is also a disaster if you have no fast tracking

No delay on TG305 outbound to RGN on 6/27... last night coming in on TG306 there was a 20 minute ground hold (the start of boarding was delayed until scheduled departure time) and we circled once on the way into BKK, maybe another 20 minutes. All in we were about 20 minutes late to the gate

My son is flying PHU-BKK-LHR on 12th July. He has a 55 minute connection at BKK to catch the TG916 to LHR at 12.25. From all of these posts it doesn't sound very hopeful that he will make the connection - is it likely that they will hold TG916 for connecting passengers?

This sounds a bit optimistic to me. I've never flown a domestic-to-international connection through BKK; but remember that you may have to clear immigration at BKK, too, which will take additional time. Perhaps someone here has done that connection recently (since departure immigration formalities moved upstairs) and can provide additional info?

Suvarnabhumi is so overloaded that DonMuang is to be reopened for point-to-point airlines, but that won't really happen until 01 October.............. until then, expect long delays......, but if your son is flying from PHU to BKK he'll only be in-transit and not need to clear immigration here (or do you really mean Phuket, which is not PHU but HKT?? as PHU is in Vietnam)

Originally Posted by lilyjosh0
My son is flying PHU-BKK-LHR on 12th July. He has a 55 minute connection at BKK to catch the TG916 to LHR at 12.25. From all of these posts it doesn't sound very hopeful that he will make the connection - is it likely that they will hold TG916 for connecting passengers?


This sounds a bit optimistic to me. I've never flown a domestic-to-international connection through BKK; but remember that you may have to clear immigration at BKK, too, which will take additional time. Perhaps someone here has done that connection recently (since departure immigration formalities moved upstairs) and can provide additional info?

http://www.flightstats.com/go/Airport/airportScorecard.do?airportCode=BKK

I think the runway under repair (1R/19L) can accommodate narrow-body departures.

I stay part of the week in Prawet (west of the airport just inside the outer ring road) and we have a lot of what looks like arriving traffic overhead, maybe circling for a left turn and landing on 1L?

And where I stay in Bangkok we have increased arriving traffic in bound for DMK.

I departed BKK on UA 804 27 June, no delays. We pushed early, but waited ~ 10 min. before lining up. No other arrivals or departures, Captain said they were "waiting for final weights", hence the slight delay.

... but if your son is flying from PHU to BKK he'll only be in-transit and not need to clear immigration here ....

How does that work logistically? I.e., how does one get from domestic arrivals to international departures while bypassing immigration? Is there some type of door or walkway to which you're admitted from your connecting arrival?

How does that work logistically? I.e., how does one get from domestic arrivals to international departures while bypassing immigration? Is there some type of door or walkway to which you're admitted from your connecting arrival?

This can only be done when the domestic flight is from one of the 6 airports with immigration/customs facilities: CEI, CNX, USM, HKT, HDY, KBV. When pax check in at those airports for the dom AND international flights they will go through immigration in that domestic airport.

Upon arrival in BKK there are 3 possibilities:

1) Dom flight arrives in A or B concourse and pax then walk to the CIQ area near B1 to gain access to the Int departure level.

2) Dom flight arrives at an international gate and all domestic pax will enter the jetway then head down the stairs. Pax in question will gain access to the int concourse 2nd floor and must proceed to one of the two transfer security points in order to get to the 3rd floor AKA international departure level.

3) Dom flight arrives at apron position and get bused to the entry at D3. At the top of the escalator officials will pick these pax out of the mix and send them through a door. Pax are now to make their way to one of the transfer security positions.

Just another uneventful report back. I flew today HKG-BKK-DEL on TG601 and TG 315.

HKG-BKK: The plane arrived half an hour late from Bangkok and left half an hour late as flight 601 to Bangkok. Approaching BKK we were give a hold position for 10 minutes, but released after 5 minutes. This added to a 35 minute delay, however, 30 minutes thereof due to late arrival of the aircraft.

BKK-DEL: The plane boarded on time, however, we waited for one pax to board the aircraft at departure time. Left gate about 10 mins after departure time. No backlog at the runway, were #2 to depart and took off after 2 minutes. Arrived DEL 35 mins early!

01JUL BKK-HKG TG606

30 minutes late boarding and another 30 minutes waiting on taxiway.

TG 930 BKK_CDG yesterady .
Scheduled depature time : 00.05 am
Actual departure time : 1.25 am

why are these mega delays happening?
when will they stop?

why are these mega delays happening?
when will they stop?

They will stop when both runways are open for all planes.

why are these mega delays happening?
when will they stop?

One runway is closed for repairs, June 11 - August 9.

So I have an upcoming HKG-BKK-FRA in F. My flight is scheduled to arrive BKK at 10:25 PM and Depart to FRA at 11:45 PM. My only other flight option is to arrive at 3:50 PM into BKK, but an 8 hour layover in BKK seems a bit much even if I can use the F lounge. These delays have me worried however, so I'm not sure which flight I should book. Will they hold the FRA flight for a F passenger if I am delayed on arrival? Any thoughts?

So I have an upcoming HKG-BKK-FRA in F. My flight is scheduled to arrive BKK at 10:25 PM and Depart to FRA at 11:45 PM.
....
These delays have me worried however, so I'm not sure which flight I should book. Will they hold the FRA flight for a F passenger if I am delayed on arrival? Any thoughts?

What do you mean by "upcoming"...need to specify the date as the reason (runway overhaul) is supposed to last till mid August (only/at least....)

Sitting in PNH awaiting PG 935 to land. In the last 5 days it's only been on a <50 min delay once... yesterday. Today it's scheduled to land in PNH 53 min late. While they're claiming the turnaround will be quick and we'll be departing 30 minutes late (which I'm not particularly believing due to experience) we then need to negotiate the landing delays.

This will be my first flight into BKK since the runway construction began... it's been a slow travel period.

I believe several flights left BKK heavily delayed last night, incl. SK 972 which arrived 2 hours late in CPH this morning.

Upcoming as in next week

Suvarnabhumi is so overloaded that DonMuang is to be reopened for point-to-point airlines, but that won't really happen until 01 October.............. until then, expect long delays......, but if your son is flying from PHU to BKK he'll only be in-transit and not need to clear immigration here (or do you really mean Phuket, which is not PHU but HKT?? as PHU is in Vietnam)

Originally Posted by lilyjosh0
My son is flying PHU-BKK-LHR on 12th July. He has a 55 minute connection at BKK to catch the TG916 to LHR at 12.25. From all of these posts it doesn't sound very hopeful that he will make the connection - is it likely that they will hold TG916 for connecting passengers?

Sorry yes I do mean Phuket not Vietnam:o

I assume that means he will simply be in transit at BKK and luggage will be tagged all the way through to London. Have been monitoring the Phuket flight and doesn't seem to have had any major delays and did notice that today's TG916 BKK to LHR (which he will be connecting to) was held for connecting passengers. Maybe I should move him to the earlier Phuket flight just to be safe although this will mean a very, very early start and a few hours layover in BKK.

Upcoming as in next week

well, Nik Bruno, then your HKG-BKK-flight might be affected, but experience tells that they are often waiting for connecting passengers and therefore delay the flights to Europe a bit.....and they will most probably pick you up by golf cart and bring you straight to the departure gate....so no need to worry.....

Airport work to finish one week early

Published: 4/07/2012 by Bangkok Post
Newspaper section: Business

Flight delays at Suvarnabhumi airport caused by runway repair could end one week sooner than expected as authorities are accelerating work.

Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) yesterday said the eastern runway, one of Suvarnabhumi's two runways undergoing overlays since June 11, will be fully operational on Aug 2, one week ahead of schedule.

AoT president Anirut Thanomkulbutra said 36.6% of the job is finished, ahead of the 32.4% target.

The repair work covers 1,620 metres of the 4,000-metre runway and is divided into two phases of implementation.

The first stage involves 870 metres of associated taxiways and is 64% complete, while the second-phase, which is being carried out in tandem and deals with 750 metres, is 12% complete, said Mr Anirut.

Since only part of the eastern runway is undergoing repair, it can still accommodate departures of narrow-body aircraft such as the A320, but landings of any aircraft type are forbidden.

Up to 3,000 metres of the eastern runway should be available to serve all types of aircraft by July 18 except for the A380 double-decker superjumbo.

AoT has said flight delays resulting from the runway shutdown are not as critical as feared.

Take-offs and landings are running only about 10-15 minutes behind schedule, within the range seen at most airports. The longest delay has been for midnight flights, 20-30 minutes as anticipated.

The runway has served more than 1.5 million flights since the airport opened in September 2006, requiring its first major overlay as partial disintegrations were spotted.

Airport work to finish one week early

Published: 4/07/2012 by Bangkok Post
Newspaper section: Business

Flight delays at Suvarnabhumi airport caused by runway repair could end one week sooner than expected as authorities are accelerating work.




Good news.

MU2025 took off from BKK today. Under 30mins delay but half is attributed to runway issues and the other half to the crew running off and buying duty free instead of getting the plane ready!!!

Yeah. Just wait till the other runway shuts down! When landing at BKK last week on the working runway, I noticed all the burnt tire marks and bumps on it and wondered if work will begin on this one after the other one is resurfaced.

Sitting in PNH awaiting PG 935 to land. In the last 5 days it's only been on a <50 min delay once... yesterday. Today it's scheduled to land in PNH 53 min late. While they're claiming the turnaround will be quick and we'll be departing 30 minutes late (which I'm not particularly believing due to experience) we then need to negotiate the landing delays.

This will be my first flight into BKK since the runway construction began... it's been a slow travel period.

Update: Took off from PNH at 8:10 and pulled up to a gate (not an apron position amazingly enough) at 9:25; 45 min late.

Yesterday departing at 4PM on TG 30 in a 737. Went to the runway under construction and took off without delay. We even pushed back from the apron position about 5 min early.

CX 709 from HKG to BKK on Friday June 29, scheduled for 2355, circled for around 10 to 15 minutes before landing.

CX 712 from BKK to HKG on Tuesday July 3, scheduled for 1605 departure, waited until 1620 (late passengers boarding presumably due to late arrival of aircraft / runway congestion?) but took off soon after leaving gate.

Update: Took off from PNH at 8:10 and pulled up to a gate (not an apron position amazingly enough) at 9:25; 45 min late.

Yesterday departing at 4PM on TG 30 in a 737. Went to the runway under construction and took off without delay. We even pushed back from the apron position about 5 min early.

the defunct runway permits at least landings (I am not sure if also take-offs) for small aircraft up to A320 as the construction work is being done only on one end and the other end can be used if weather conditions (direction of wind) permit

the defunct runway permits at least landings (I am not sure if also take-offs) for small aircraft up to A320

And the post you quoted stated that we took off on the under-construction runway. Perhaps you can reassess whether or not take-offs are allowed on that runway.

And the post you quoted stated that we took off on the under-construction runway. Perhaps you can reassess whether or not take-offs are allowed on that runway.

dsquared,
I wrote that (.."and I am not sure if also take offs..") but please see my previous note on the top of this page by yesterdays BKK Post:
"Since only part of the eastern runway is undergoing repair, it can still accommodate departures of narrow-body aircraft such as the A320, but landings of any aircraft type are forbidden."

dsquared,
I wrote that (.."and I am not sure if also take offs..") but please see my previous note on the top of this page by yesterdays BKK Post:
"Since only part of the eastern runway is undergoing repair, it can still accommodate departures of narrow-body aircraft such as the A320, but landings of any aircraft type are forbidden."

Agreed. But if you look at your prior post:

the defunct runway permits at least landings (I am not sure if also take-offs) for small aircraft up to A320 as the construction work is being done only on one end and the other end can be used if weather conditions (direction of wind) permit

You switched the allowances.

Agreed. But if you look at your prior post:

You switched the allowances.

Point noted - you are right.
Unfortunately I cannot find my original source/article dating back to May which was much more precise and reliable than the latest BKK-Post article from 4.July (above). (Don't forget: the newspaper is "press" and journalists often tend to not fully understand and describe the full scope in detail....)

Yeah. Just wait till the other runway shuts down! When landing at BKK last week on the working runway, I noticed all the burnt tire marks and bumps on it and wondered if work will begin on this one after the other one is resurfaced.


I guess 19R/1L (aka not the runway under repair) was closed last night to repair a divot, with some 11 flights redirected to UTP, DMK and even CNX. My UA flight was looking at an early arrival, but we held until 11:00 PM. Runway seemed fine when we landed. :eek:


AVIATION
Subsidence on airport's western runway fixed
July 6, 2012 2:48 pm

A five-centimetre-deep depression on the western runway of Suvarnabhumi Airport has been fixed and the runway can now operate normally, Somchai Sawasdeepon, Suvarnabhumi Airport director, has confirmed.

According to Thai News Agency, Somchai said he received the report about the subsidence on the airport's western runway at 8pm Thursday. The subsidence spot is five centimetres deep and 60 centimetres wide and long.

It took 15 minutes to fix and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd was told to manage air traffic properly during the repairs, Somchai explained. As a result, 11 flights were redirected to Don Mueang and U-Tapao airports.

The western runway can be used normally without any problem, the airport director said.


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Subsidence-on-airports-western-runway-fixed-30185635.html

The western runway can be used normally without any problem, the airport director said.




I wonder how imminent it's shutdown and repaving is at this time.

... 29R/1L ...

??

??

It was a typo, obviously.

I've corrected my post.

It was a typo, obviously.

That's what I thought. I was trying to visualize the new angular runways. ;)

I guess 19R/1L (aka not the runway under repair) was closed last night to repair a divot, with some 11 flights redirected to UTP, DMK and even CNX. My UA flight was looking at an early arrival, but we held until 11:00 PM. Runway seemed fine when we landed. :eek:


AVIATION
Subsidence on airport's western runway fixed
July 6, 2012 2:48 pm

A five-centimetre-deep depression on the western runway of Suvarnabhumi Airport has been fixed and the runway can now operate normally, Somchai Sawasdeepon, Suvarnabhumi Airport director, has confirmed.

According to Thai News Agency, Somchai said he received the report about the subsidence on the airport's western runway at 8pm Thursday. The subsidence spot is five centimetres deep and 60 centimetres wide and long.

It took 15 minutes to fix and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd was told to manage air traffic properly during the repairs, Somchai explained. As a result, 11 flights were redirected to Don Mueang and U-Tapao airports.

The western runway can be used normally without any problem, the airport director said.


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Subsidence-on-airports-western-runway-fixed-30185635.html


But the story continues today:
(The Nation online 7.July 1.00am)
(http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Runway-crisis-deepens-30185692.html)
"Sinkholes delay flights; govt, AOT urged to take prompt action to prevent loss of confidence"
"Executives in the aviation and tourism industries have called on the government and Airports of Thailand (AOT) to work together more closely to maintain Suvarnabhumi Airport's safety standards after two sinkholes were found on the west runway on Thursday night, causing delays.
Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said the problems at the airport would hurt foreign travellers' confidence if they were not solved.
"The government should have clear measures to take care of the airport and air traffic in cases where unexpected situations arise,'' he said, adding that news of problems at the airport circulates around the world quickly, hurting the country's image.
AOT closed the west runway from 8.30-9.30pm on Thursday night for repairs after two sinkholes were found. One was 60cm wide, 60cm long and 5cm deep. Eleven flights were affected, seven of them Thai Airways International (THAI) flights, which were forced to delay their landings. Four other flights were diverted to U-tapao, Don Mueang and Chiang Mai airports during the closure.
Suvarnabhumi Airport general manager Somchai Sawasdeepon said the sinkholes on the west runway were caused by water leaks. Although they were not in an area that could cause rutting, the airport immediately closed the runway for repairs.
"The west runway was closed for repairs 209 times last year, and has been closed 55 times since the beginning of 2012. The east runway has been closed 66 times. Every shutdown is for a different length of time. Mostly, repairs were needed to existing cracks," Somchai said.
He conceded that the latest incident had delayed flights and damaged the airport's image. However, he pointed out that maintaining safety is more important than preserving the airport's image.
Meanwhile, the east runway is still closed for repairs, which are scheduled to be complete on August 9.
On June 22, the airport's control tower was hit by a power outage, affecting the takeoffs or landings of nearly 50 flights. Suvarnabhumi is also struggling with a passenger load of 51 million passengers a year, compared to its official capacity of 45 million.
Airlines have reported only a marginal impact, and that the problems are largely under control.
Yongyut Lujintanon, sales and marketing manager for Thailand and Myanmar of Cathay Pacific Airways, said only one Cathay flight was affected on Thursday night. The Hong Kong-Colombo flight was on a stopover in Bangkok. The aircraft was required to circle for half an hour before landing. Yongyut said the airline was able to speed up its ground procedures to delay its departure to Colombo by only 20 minutes.
"Fortunately, the problem was minor," he said. However, he urged the agencies involved to keep the airport's operations to a high standard.
AirAsia's public relations department confirmed that about four of its flights were hit between 8 and 9pm. They circled above the airport before landing. Cabin crew communicated with passengers regularly to ensure they understood the situation and the passengers had no problem with it, the firm said.
Woranate Laprabang, managing director of THAI Smile, a business unit of national carrier THAI, said the airport's runway problems are routine if fixed in time. Imagine 100- to 200-tonne aeroplanes taking off and landing continually every day; the runway is sure to sustain damage, Woranate said. At present, runways at international airports in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are also closed for repairs, the THAI Smile executive said.
He confirmed that THAI Smile's maiden flight to Macau today would proceed. TG750 departs from Suvarnabhumi at 7.45am and arrives in Macau at 11.30am."

TIT : This Is Thailand.
Nobody will ever be held accountable, things will go on as always and the airport will eventually sink back into the swamp it was built upon.

new article by BKK Post today - AOT critized

"AoT under fire for lack of planning on runway repairs"
(SPECIAL REPORT: Suvarnabhumi delays are affecting flights, tourist arrivals and wider business
Published: 9/07/2012 at 08:09 AM
"Although runway repairs at Suvarnabhumi airport are on schedule, the congestion caused by the work has led to wider effects than just flight delays.
Tourism operators have reported a drop in the number of foreign visitors arriving in Thailand, and electronics manufacturers have complained of late shipments of materials.
Air passengers, meanwhile, have raised doubts over the capability of airport executives to effectively manage the number of airlines scrambling for space on the reduced runway capacity.
Most importantly, safety concerns have arisen after damage was also found recently on the western runway, which was not the subject of the maintenance closures.
The airport has closed 1.6km of its 4km eastern runway since June 11, and during this time the damage to the western runway was also found.
The western runway has since been fully repaired.
On just the first day of the eastern runway closure, 380 flights were delayed, and services have continued to be affected in the four weeks since.
The repairs are due to be completed on Aug 2.
Suvarnabhumi airport director Somchai Sawasdipol insisted the repair period was appropriately scheduled as June to August is the tourism low season.
He added that the repairs were absolutely necessary at this time because attempts to repair the runway damage in 2011 were repeatedly delayed.
But Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT), which operates Suvarnabhumi, has come under fire for what critics say is inadequate co-ordination with the business sector to jointly solve the problems arising from the runway repair work.
The AoT should have informed airlines six months to a year before the repairs began so they could reduce their flights to keep impacts to a minimum, said Marisa Pongpattanapun, chairwoman of Airline Operators Committee (AOC), a coalition of global airline managers at Suvarnabhumi.
"Instead, the airlines were told only three months before. That was too short a time to adjust flight schedules because air tickets were already sold," she said.
Tourism operators have also expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the repairs and resultant impacts.
"It's fine for the AoT to care about safety standards, but it should have come up with better plans to curb the impacts on aviation and other business sectors," Tourism Council of Thailand president Piyaman Tejapaibul said.
The AoT should talk to businesses whenever it launches policies that will affect tourism, Ms Piyaman said.
"There has been a lack of integration between the state and private sectors in regard to this repair operation and it has led to vast impacts," she said.
Thailand has lost tourism revenue as a result, Ms Piyaman said.
For example, 10 chartered flights from China were cancelled recently because the airport could not arrange flight schedules for them.
Electronic device manufacturers have also complained about the delays.
Thai Airfreight Forwarders Association representative Thapana Songtarak said their deliveries to overseas customers have been affected.
Mr Somchai promised the airport is willing to help affected businesses on case by case basis.
The AOC has asked the AoT to cut landing and takeoff fees for airlines enduring delays as a result of the runway repairs"

I arrived yesterday (Thursday, 12 July) on the Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt. We had to circle for about an hour before landing. I think the early afternoon is one of the peak hours for arrivals (and thus delays) as just about all the European airlines arrive then, having departed shortly before midnight European time.

I arrived yesterday (Thursday, 12 July) on the Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt. We had to circle for about an hour before landing. I think the early afternoon is one of the peak hours for arrivals (and thus delays) as just about all the European airlines arrive then, having departed shortly before midnight European time.

Hi Braniff,

What was the flight like as I have the same one in a few weeks time?

I don't know why TG doesn't consider a dual-hub-system like LH (FRA&MUC)

There is CNX in the North running below 50% of its capacity. (I read somewhere 25% only). The international terminal just got an upgrade. The immigration desks are allways deserted. CNX can handle 747, I don't know if fully tanked for long-haul flights. A380 I don't know either.

Does anybody know the percentage of TG pax only transiting at BKK? They won't bother CNX. Of course some further upgrades have to be done like First Class facillities.

For Bangkok pax who are so fed up with Swampy, they can run a (TG Smile) shuttle into DMK.

They can also co-op with a bus company like NCA (realy luxury buses!) for conneting pax to CEI and other destinations in the North.

I am writing this after reading this article:

http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4687&Itemid=437

Hi Braniff,

What was the flight like as I have the same one in a few weeks time?

I flew in First Class. Food and service were outstanding. Old-style seat and poor in-flight entertainment...

I don't know why TG doesn't consider a dual-hub-system like LH (FRA&MUC)

There is CNX in the North running below 50% of its capacity. (I read somewhere 25% only). The international terminal just got an upgrade. The immigration desks are allways deserted. CNX can handle 747, I don't know if fully tanked for long-haul flights. A380 I don't know either.

Does anybody know the percentage of TG pax only transiting at BKK? They won't bother CNX. Of course some further upgrades have to be done like First Class facillities.

For Bangkok pax who are so fed up with Swampy, they can run a (TG Smile) shuttle into DMK.

They can also co-op with a bus company like NCA (realy luxury buses!) for conneting pax to CEI and other destinations in the North.

I am writing this after reading this article:

http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4687&Itemid=437

A hub system involves lots of spokes. MUC is borderline, a secondary hub for TG would be a joke.

MUC is not borderline. But Munich is as important a German city as Frakfurt.
However, the case of Phuket is weird. A large number of charters and LCCs fly nonstop to HKT every day. For example, TG is losing a lot of traffic from Europe and Eastern European countries. Numerous nonstop flights arrive from former soviet union.
It could be that TG would not have enough traffic to fill a conventional longhaul plane.

To give an idea of the potential regional traffic, four airlines are now flying daily nonstop HKG-HKT. That means 4 or 5 nonstop flights a day. And it took a long time for TG to introduce a nonstop both ways.

I'd like to see TG on HKT-SIN.

I'd like to see TG on HKT-SIN.

My wish is Thai's command. Thai smile will start on this route. nice to have a Star Alliance option since SQ send their silly non-Star Alliance Silkair on this route.

from airlineroute.net:

Phuket – Singapore eff 31MAR13
TG791 HKT0940 – 1230SIN 320 D
TG792 SIN1330 – 1415HKT 320 D

Found a relevant article from Burma of all places. A good synopsis of the problems at BKK, IMO. LINK:http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/9460

A hub system involves lots of spokes. MUC is borderline, a secondary hub for TG would be a joke.

To operate any flight there is need for a certain minimum amount of point-to-point demand and therefore Thai is flying seasonal nonstops from Copenhague and Stockholm to Phuket and year round daily nonstops from Hongkong and Seoul to Phuket. Therefore, Phuket would have a (very small) potential as a secondary hub for Thai, but Chiangmai simply does not have enough "minimum" demand for its own nonstop operation to/from Europe.
That makes a big difference when comparing it to the dual-hub-system by LH.

ALL my flights in and out of BKK delayed by 1 hour each the past 2 weeks
annoying, but hey this is Thailand :)

A hub system involves lots of spokes. MUC is borderline, a secondary hub for TG would be a joke.

I guess I have to agree. Trying to make a dual hub would just make connections less convenient and would have an overall negative effect. But with that said, sometimes I almost think changing the hub from BKK to CNX or elsewhere would be a good idea. In recent years, BKK has had such a series of problems, that having the main hub elsewhere that wasn't so prone to political and natural disasters might be an advantage. Having the airport closed or Bangkok effectively closed for weeks on end has got to seriously hurt the bottom line of profitability of BKK routes. And I fear that the flooding problems in Bangkok will only intensify on average in the future. I know there's way too many influential people in Bangkok and way too many businesses centered there to ever make moving the hub become practical. But BKK is becoming less and less attractive to me personally, and these days over 90% of my Thailand trips bypass BKK in favor of direct flights to HKT or CNX. And I don't see myself returning to using BKK in the future except for those occasions when the HTK/CNX flights aren't available.

We flew into BKK on TG at 6am last Wednesday with no delays at all

BKK-Post article today:
"AoT mulls handout for radar gaffe"

"Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has indicated it may offer compensation to airlines affected by problems with Suvarnabhumi's runways and last month's radar breakdown but has stopped short of committing itself.
"In principle, we are not obliged [to offer compensation], but being part of the same family we may consider offering help," said AoT president Anirut Thanomkulbutra.
AoT and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (Aerothai), the air navigation service responsible for the radar breakdown on June 21, said so far they have not received requests for payment from airlines.
Marisa Pongpattanapun, chairwoman of the Airline Operators Committee (AOC), a coalition of global airline managers at Suvarnabhumi, confirmed her agency has filed requests for compensation from the two bodies.
International airlines are holding the two organisations accountable for the costs of multiple prolonged flight disruptions, including the prohibitive fuel costs for aircraft held up in the air or diverted to alternate airports amid uproar from passengers in the past month.
Carriers blamed AoT for the maintenance closure of the eastern runway which began on June 11 and is expected to last until July 31, and the one-hour shutdown of the western runway on July 5 in order to fix a subsidence.
Airlines also want Aerothai to take responsibility for the complete breakdown of the radar system from 6.14 to 7.12pm on June 21 which crippled flights and caused diversions to other airports.
Both the main and back-up power supply systems went down, the longest prolonged radar breakdown in 45 years.
Fifty planes were affected, with 13 aircraft diverted to alternate airports (six to U-Tapao, two to Chiang Mai, two to Phuket, two to Kuala Lumpur and one to Siem Reap) and scores of jetliners held up for takeoff and landing.
It is not known how much carriers want to claim from the two bodies, but Ms Marisa said it may vary for each airline, but the total costs involved are "substantial."
A senior official at the Department of Civil Aviation said Aerothai has earmarked 3 million baht in compensation to airlines affected by its radar breakdown.
Investigators released a report on June 10 which put the blame on equipment disorder, not human error.
The Aerothai compensation would come in the form of a waiver of navigation fees for flights affected by the breakdown."

I flew HKT - BKK TG224 last night and we were stacked at BKK for 40-45 minutes. I missed most of the pilot announcement but I think he blamed heavy rain. When we landed there was very light rain only.

BKK - LHR TG910 was pushed back from the gate about 50 minutes late because we sat waiting for "the last 2 connecting passengers."

Is one runway down again?

I flew HKT - BKK TG224 last night and we were stacked at BKK for 40-45 minutes. I missed most of the pilot announcement but I think he blamed heavy rain. When we landed there was very light rain only.

BKK - LHR TG910 was pushed back from the gate about 50 minutes late because we sat waiting for "the last 2 connecting passengers."

Is one runway down again?

im sure you have seen tropcial downpours which last a few minutes. if a storm was centred over the airport then that would explain it, and its only natural that it would have moved on by the time you landed.

According to an article in today's Bangkok post, the repaired runway will fully reopen today .

According to an article in today's Bangkok post, the repaired runway will fully reopen today .

We pulled into the C/B gate area today upon arrival, having landed on the west runway. I saw several TG widebodies making their way to the east runway, at least that's how it looked to me before I lost visual contact with them.

I was in A seats so the runway was never in my view.

There were about 7 pax at immigration, and 12 agents. :D

I flew HKT - BKK TG224 last night and we were stacked at BKK for 40-45 minutes. I missed most of the pilot announcement but I think he blamed heavy rain. When we landed there was very light rain only.

BKK - LHR TG910 was pushed back from the gate about 50 minutes late because we sat waiting for "the last 2 connecting passengers."

Is one runway down again?

when do they actually wait for passengers? Does it depend on status, cabin class...?

when do they actually wait for passengers? Does it depend on status, cabin class...?

I am guessing if the late pax are connecting from the same carrier or at least the same alliance and their late arrival was caused by the carrier they might try to wait :confused:

They also tend to wait a few minutes if you have luggage checked in because the cost (time) to locate and off-load your bags may outweigh a 5 minute delay in waiting for you to run to the gate...

But waiting 50 mins for connecting pax..... Must have been one hell of a VVIP.

But waiting 50 mins for connecting pax..... Must have been one hell of a VVIP.

I have heard of this happening more during the runway repair. It remains to be seen if this will continue once landing/takeoff delays due to the east runway are no longer a factor.

I am guessing if the late pax are connecting from the same carrier or at least the same alliance and their late arrival was caused by the carrier they might try to wait :confused:

They also tend to wait a few minutes if you have luggage checked in because the cost (time) to locate and off-load your bags may outweigh a 5 minute delay in waiting for you to run to the gate...

But waiting 50 mins for connecting pax..... Must have been one hell of a VVIP.

The last 2 were caucasion in C but they were only about 10 minutes behind some others so the plane did not wait 50 minutes just for 2 people. Sorry my last post seemed to suggest that.

I think dazz81 is correct and the airport was closed for some 45 minutes or more due to a tropical storm and all incoming flights were delayed. We still got to London on time so presumably the pilot knew he would make up the time but we were stacked there for 20 minutes. No queue at all though at immigration and my bag was one of the first out after a mere 5 minutes wait.

On a seperate note the crew did not seem to have a clue as they whisked my champagne glass away (still a third full) 20 minutes before we were pushed back from the gate. I remember when they used to collect these at the end of the taxi to the runway.

I guess I have to agree. Trying to make a dual hub would just make connections less convenient and would have an overall negative effect. But with that said, sometimes I almost think changing the hub from BKK to CNX or elsewhere would be a good idea. In recent years, BKK has had such a series of problems, that having the main hub elsewhere that wasn't so prone to political and natural disasters might be an advantage. Having the airport closed or Bangkok effectively closed for weeks on end has got to seriously hurt the bottom line of profitability of BKK routes. And I fear that the flooding problems in Bangkok will only intensify on average in the future. I know there's way too many influential people in Bangkok and way too many businesses centered there to ever make moving the hub become practical. But BKK is becoming less and less attractive to me personally, and these days over 90% of my Thailand trips bypass BKK in favor of direct flights to HKT or CNX. And I don't see myself returning to using BKK in the future except for those occasions when the HTK/CNX flights aren't available.

The best thing TG has done is with their new morning non-stops from Bangkok to Seoul, which continue to LA. I hated having only the option of a one-stop flight.

Lufthansa just cancelled Munich-Singapore-Jakarta. I was a bit surprised that LH were pulling out of Indonesia altogether as Indonesia seems to be seen as an econonic wunderkind at the moment... So much for MUC...

I am also very down on BKK in general. I have had very bad experiences there recently which I have a separate thread on.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thai-airways-royal-orchid-plus/1304239-bkk-airport-tg-going-downhill.html