Samui:2 airports?

[Baton Rouge]

Noted this in The Nation Online this morning.

Thailand's largest private airline Bangkok Airways said Tuesday it would allow other airlines to fly to the nation's southern island of Samui, ending its 16-year monopoly there.

"Bangkok Airways announced that Samui Airport is open to all other airlines for operations, but all airlines must follow rules and regulations issued by the department of civil aviation," the carrier said in a statement Tuesday.

Samui Airport opened in 1989 and is wholly owned and operated by Bangkok Airways, which is currently the only airline flying to the popular tourist island in the Gulf of Thailand.

Bangkok Airways said that so far, only flag carrier Thai Airways had been informed of the possible loosening of the monopoly.

"Bangkok Airways has been collaborating with Thai Airways on a code-sharing agreement for Bangkok-Samui starting December 1st onwards," they said.

On October 31st the private carrier upped its fare for the route -- the first such increase in five years -- citing higher fuel costs because of the move to Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport.

It recently said Samui Airport would be expanded to handle 22,250 passengers daily, up from its current capacity of 9,000 passengers.

The expansion would be financed by a 10.5 billion baht (280 million dollar) property fund that would be sold to retail investors and institutional investors by early November.

Bangkok Airways has forecast its annual profit would jump from 31.4 million baht in 2005 to around 250 million baht this year, and passengers are expected to rise 14.8 percent year-on-year to 2.57 million this year.

The carrier was badly affected by the drop in tourism last year to southern Thailand following the 2004 tsunami.

It is expected that a total revenues would increase by 20 percent from 2005 to 9.7 billion baht this year.

Agence France Presse

[GWR]

13 May 2007
Samui Island to have second airport
The Transport Ministry urged a study be conducted on the construction of a second airport on Samui Island

The Deputy Permanent Secretary of Transport Ministry, Mr.Surachai Tharnsithpong (สุรชัย ธารสิทธิ์พงษ์) revealed after attending a meeting to discuss a second Airport project on Samui Island that a study is currently underway to underline environmental effects concerning local communities. A verdict will be passed by the end of May and will be presented to Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen (ธีระ ห้าวเจริญ).

Mr. Surachai said that the study found 11.8 percent of the IRR (internal Rate of Return Method) on the 1,500 rai construction site will be 1.7 billion baht project cost. The Deputy Permanent Secretary of Transport says he has instructed the Department of Air Transport and Office of Transport and Traffic policy and planning to conduct the passenger service capacity survey.

The constructive result for the airport is expected to be proposed to the interim government after the study plan has finalized.
Reporter : RTI-Reporter01

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255005130024

[GWR]

Soft opening at Samui International

By Boonsong Kositchotethana

The new terminal development on the popular tourist island is scheduled for an official opening in January next year, to cope with surging foreign-tourist traffic to the island over the next 10 years and immediately ease congestion at the old terminal.

Samui Airport's new 500-million-baht passenger terminal was opened for international flights yesterday after starting domestic air services on May 27. Yesterday's opening means the airport is now running at full capacity, which is basically four times larger than the old terminal and capable of handling up to 16,000 passengers a day.

The full opening comes in light of continued debates and lobbying by politicians to have a second airport on the resort island funded with taxpayer money to support the country's burgeoning tourism industry.

Bangkok Airways, which operates the Samui airport, has been the focus of continued criticism for its monopoly on domestic air services to the resort island in the Gulf of Thailand. Critics have blasted the high passenger fares and aircraft service charges, as well as its reluctance to allow other domestic carriers to use its airport.

The airline categorically denies all these charges, saying it has played a key role in putting the once-little-known island on the world's tourism map since it first opened the airport in 1989.

The new Samui terminal comprises a cluster of low-rise buildings with steel-reinforced thatched roofs, palm-tree pillars and wooden and rattan walls in an open-air layout that blends in with the coconut plantations that surround it. The airport has four new domestic sections and two international sections with a total passenger area of 73,000 sq metres.

The development also includes a "walking street" retail area adjacent to the passenger terminal with boutique-style shops lining the path. The company also plans to build a 60-room boutique hotel early next year.

Passenger arrivals at the Samui airport have increased from 660,000 in 2000 to 1.3 million last year. It serves direct Bangkok Airways' flights from Bangkok, Phuket, U-Tapao, Chiang Mai, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Next year, the airport will see more arrivals as Bangkok Airways expands regional connections, airline executives said yesterday.

Other airlines heading to Samui include Berjaya Air from Kuala Lumpur and budget airline FireFly from Penang.


May expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=121270

[GWR]

Well, what do you think? I have no idea:

20 September 2007
Ko Samui Airport voted among best top 10 airports in the world
Ko Samui Airport has been voted among the best top ten airports in the world through a recent online survey of travelers by the Smart Travel Asia magazine.

Other airports on the top ten list include Hong Kong International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Incheon International Airport, Pudong International Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Amsterdam Airport, Zurich Airport, and Frankfurt Airport. The Managing Director of Public Relations to Ko Samui Airport, M.L. Nanthipa Worawan (ม.ล. นันทิกา วรวรรณ), reports that Ko Samui Airport is capable of accommodating over 9,000 flights per year, with direct connections from Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Reporter : RTI-Reporter02
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255009200030

[jpatokal]

Any list that puts Frankfurt in the top 10 is pretty dubious in my book...! :confused: Reputable lists of "best" airports are usually categorized by size, because it doesn't make much sense to compare a minnow like Samui to, erm, every other airport on that list.

[mdechgan]

Frankfurt is a definate top ten. Very good system especially the baggage system. Terminal 2 is newer. However the airport is suffering from over capacity and passengers rarely are able to board-deplane via gates. Its mostly buses and tarmac.

Samui International if it is as good as they say it would put Suvarnahumi to shame. However isn't it controlled and operated 100% by Bangkok Airways?
Suvarnabhumi is definately not supposed to be in the top ten.

I don't think many would care because it cost much more to fly in/out Samui.
Bangkok Samui is like 3,000 baht while from other places it would be 2,000 one way. One can fly to Phuket International on half the price.

Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore and Phuket, all serviced by Bangkok Airways are the only destinations that I know of. There are a few Malaysian carries I think goes to KL but that is about it.

Compared to Phuket which services over 30 major carriers to destinations like Seoul, Shanghai, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Zurich which have airports in the top ten list.

[GWR]

Thai Airways to open Bangkok-Samui flights

BANGKOK, Jan 17 (TNA) – Thai Airways International (Thai) will inaugurate daily Bangkok-Samui flights on February 15, according to Chaisak Angkasuwan, director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).

Mr. Chaisak said the DCA on Thursday morning met executives of the national flag carrier and Bangkok Airways, a private firm which owns Samui airport.

After the meeting, he told journalists that starting from mid-February, Thai Airways would offer passengers two flights a day from Suvarnabhumi airport to Samui airport.

The opening of the new route is in line with the policy of the Transport Ministry to give more alternatives to passengers.

The airfare is expected to be similar to that currently offered by Bangkok Airways.

The new route is expected to be popular among foreign tourists as they will be able to travel by a direct flight from Suvarnbhumi to Samui's tourist destinations in the southern province of Surat Thani. (TNA)-E004
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=2343

[GWR]

One seriously wonders whether there is room on the island for another airport that would inevitably have to have a longer runway. I suspect this is a ploy to either get Bangkok Airways to develop (& lengthen) the existing airport itself or to get it to cooperate more with others to do the same:

Samui tourism operators urge Govt to build 2nd airport

Surat Thani - Tourism operators on the popular tourist-destination Koh Samui renewed their call for the government to build the second airport on the island.

Surat Thani governor Winai Buapradit said Saturday that the operators called on the provincial administration to carry out a feasibility study and push for the construction of the second airport on Samui.

The governor said the number of tourists visiting the island increased every year but it was inconvenient for the tourists to visit the island.

Winai said the tourism operators complained that the air fares at the privately-owned airport were too high, and thus affecting tourism.

The governor said he had instructed the office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in the province to work with other government agencies concerned to prepare information to propose the project to the government.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30066247

[GWR]

People in Koh Samui say no to new airport

Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation, Chaisak Angkasuwan (ชัยศักดิ์ อังค์สุวรรณ), says a majority of people in Koh Samui (เกาะสมุย) disagrees with a project to construct the second airport in the island.

According to the director-general, the people said the new airport will affect their daily life. They also wanted the government to buy the old airport, which is run by the private sector, to develop it and resolve the problem of price monopoly.

Meanwhile, the director-general says an engineering study shows that Koh Samui has lands suitable for the construction of more airports. However, more than one airport in the island might damage the environment and local people. The new airport yields economic returns by only 1%, Mr Chaisak says.

The director-general says the department will push for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the construction of the new airport. The EIA report will be submitted to the Ministry of Transport and the Environmental Committee for consideration.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255103140004

[GWR]

PostBag

Who wants a new airport on Samui?

The spectre of a new airport continues to haunt Koh Samui. As your April 3 edition reports, a public hearing was organised on March 12, furnishing fresh information and allowing the general public to voice its opinions and grievances.

The "majority support" stated in your headline is misleading. The majority (of 342 people) who attended the meeting, encouraged by interested parties, may have given their support. But even so, a majority vote cannot change the fundamental issues - something that none of the past discussions have examined in a comprehensive and objective manner.

These include the basic geological unsuitability of the site, the exorbitant costs of expropriation and landfill, the environmental impact, and the ultimate futility of creating a second airport when the problem of the first can be addressed.

Once one has reviewed these issues logically, one can only be troubled by the nagging thought that, based on the fundamental infeasibility of the airport project and consequent waste of resources, that either a personal vendetta against Bangkok Airways, or a grand plan for financial gain must be at play.

By default, a project of these proportions will invite the age-old practice of money under the table and kickbacks proportional to the size of the budget.

Land expropriation: Supporters of a new airport have already drawn up complete plans for its construction without consulting the local community. The area envisioned for the new airport used to be Samui's largest rice growing basin (thung naa) and is still subdivided into small plots owned by hundreds of families.

Many people in Na Mueang district are opposed to the idea of an airport next door, and any expropriation plan will have to deal with hundreds of different parties and separate court cases.

In addition, it is rather naive to assume that 500 million baht will be sufficient for land expropriation. Appreciation in land values on Samui is one of the highest in Thailand, and for a 2,100-rai property in the thung naa area of Na Mueang even 1 billion baht would not suffice.

It is also naive to believe that the costs involved in building the airport would be in the area of 1 billion baht. Realistically speaking, we are looking at an amount well in excess of 2 billion baht.

Geology: The area in question constitutes an expansive floodwater basin acting like a sponge for excessive seasonal rain water runoff from the mountains to the north. That is why, with the right type of clay soil and seasonal flooding, the terrain was indeed ideal for growing rice, and should be earmarked for an enlarged water reservoir in future.

By contrast, one would in fact be hard pressed to find a less suitable site for building a runway, which needs to absorb the impact of heavy planes landing.

Both the top soil and in particular the geological strata below are by nature clayey and unsupportive compared to rock, gravel or sand. Therefore, in order to build a foundation suitable for a runway, large-scale excavation and re-fill would need to take place. As the bedrock only starts at a depth of 80 metres, piling is an unlikely option.

Because of the natural cycle of seasonal (at times severe) flooding, not only the runway but all other utility areas such as terminals, will need to be raised at least two metres above the level of the existing rice fields. Due to the scarcity of suitable soil on the island, large-scale landfilling is a very costly undertaking.

Once the area can no longer function as a flood plain, many surrounding residential areas and roads would be subject to severe flooding, unless a floodwater diversion system of large proportions is built to deal with this problem.

Bangkok Airways: There are many good things to be said about Bangkok Airway and one can only admire Dr Prasert's pioneering vision to invest hundreds of millions of baht to build a private airport on Samui.

Whether one feels that this was positive or negative for the island is a matter of perception and personal opinion. Fact is, investment on the island increased tremendously and many upmarket hotels and residential homes were built as a direct consequence of this development.

Samui can pride itself in being home to one of Asia's most beautiful airports. Using a combination of simple yet aesthetically pleasing architecture and well-maintained gardens, the airline has made a serious effort in providing a beautiful gateway for Koh Samui What is more, with its recent completion of a new terminal and facilities, passenger capacity has been increased significantly.

The ugly downside is that Bangkok Airways, as the sole owner of the existing airport, engages in monopolistic practices that enrages locals. The airport maintenance tax of 300 baht (which does not exist at any other domestic airport in Thailand) is just one example of squeezing money out of passengers. Everyone on the island has suffered at one point or another from the airline's high-handed disregard for its customers. Flight delays are more the rule than the exception.

Understandably, many people are disgruntled. However, building a new airport is not the solution to this particular problem. It would be like shooting sparrows with cannons or prescribing unnecessarily expensive medication, which only addresses the patient's symptoms. If indeed the problem is Bangkok Airways, then why not address this issue directly and force the company to improve its services, allow other airlines to operate, and charge more reasonable prices?

I believe hotel operators and local organisations (if they join hands) are in a very strong position to achieve this.

Impact on infrastructure and environment: The desultory state of Koh Samui's infrastructure, public facilities and services simply cannot cope with increasing numbers of residents and visitors. In fact, more and more visitors are choosing not to return to Koh Samui because the glossy brochures do not always match the reality of its increasingly damaged environment.

Surely, slowing development to resolve existing problems before they completely get out of control would be the wisest choice.

Conclusion: It appears there will be no problem raising funds (to the tune of 2 billion baht) to build a new airport. A concerted effort to address and deal with many of the problems plaguing Samui today would cost a lot less. The present dispute over the new airport should be seen as an opportunity to re-examine Samui's present state of development. Instead of more indiscriminate development and building, the island urgently needs visionary planning based on sustainable tourism concepts.

We should not allow this beautiful island to become another victim of short-sighted and destructive, big-money politics. Efficient solutions to the island's present problems, the long-term effect on limited natural resources and ultimate sustainability should be carefully considered before any more development takes place.

CHAO BAAN SAMUI

http://www.bangkokpost.com/070408_News/07Apr2008_news99.php