When it comes to airport quality, the sky’s the limit.Let’s look at how Thailand fares in the overall aviation scheme of things.

Airports Council International (ACI), the world referee of all things to do with aviation support services, regularly publishes a list of the best airports both worldwide, and regionally. Phuket Airport didn’t even make it onto any list, whilst Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok languishes in mediocrity, well down the field. This casts serious doubts upon Thailand’s grandiose plans for becoming a regional aviation hub. Ominously, poor neighbour Hyderabad GMR Rajiv Ghandhi International Airport topped their category, which should be a wake-up call for our Airports Authority.

In a previous article we catalogued the considerable improvements in services and infrastructure which both the national facilities have achieved of late, and there is no doubt that these are substantial. However, the ACI listings are dominated by other Asian airports, our regional competitors.

First though let’s give credit, where credit is due. In 2007, it’s first full year of operation, Suvarnabhumi was ranked at a miserable, but deserved, 48. The following year it made it to 38, and last year, 24. Steady progress. Let’s hope that the powers-that-be can sustain the momentum. Their own stated objective is to make it into the world top ten.

In the past year, Suvarnabhumi has replaced the un-upholstered, ugly, cold, uncomfortable grey metal seats that should never have found their way into a 21st-century international facility. However, there are still no free internet services at departure gates, and there are only a total of 9000 baggage trolleys, available for use by passengers. The shortage of trolleys has been a major complaint from day one – apparently large numbers were purloined – perhaps by local supermarkets.

The best airports in the world according to the ACI survey are, in descending order of excellence:
Incheon, in Seoul, South Korea
Singapore Changi Airport
Hong Kong International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport
Hyderabad Rajiv Ghandi International Airport (RGIA).
Hyderabad’s fifth place (they also headed the ‘5 to 15 million passengers per year’ group) came as a particular surprise, because the sad fact is, that Indian airports have been a disgrace for many years. Until recently, even Delhi Airport barely registered on the scale of adequacy, never mind distinction. The last time I transited this airport, its ‘new’ terminal was a poorly built prefabricated structure, which was a pitiable gateway to what has become one of the world’s burgeoning economies. So the Hyderabad success story does show what can be achieved, with adequate finance, sound planning and management. Suvarnabhumi and Phuket please note.

In the ‘over 40 million passengers per year’ category, (this is the category applicable to Suvarnabhumi) this is how things stacked up. Hong Kong was first followed by Beijing, Denver, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. In the ’25 to 40 million passengers per year’ category, Incheon was first; then came Singapore, Tokyo Narita, Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai Pudong. The Chinese airports, by the way, are monsters. I attended the opening of Beijing Capital International Airport three years ago. Its size and the overwhelming flow of humanity, unbelievable.

The latest ACI survey also shows that with determination an airport can be improved pretty quickly. Here’s a listing of airports which have managed to rise up through the rankings very rapidly: in Africa, Cairo; in Europe, Pont Delgada; in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi; in Latin America, Cancun and in North America, Cleveland.
So there’s hope for Phuket and Suvarnabhumi to continue to improve, but there’s no room for complacency. What is needed is consistent management, a dedication to customer service, robust policing of ancillary services and a strong dedication to achieve excellence.

There are many questions asked by curious aeroplane enthusiasts. In the months to come we’ll be trying to answer some of these. However, a word of warning, the answers can be chilling. If you’re presently sitting in a departure lounge you might be advised to turn to the next page, right now.

Question: “Can a standard Boeing 747 fly upside down?”
The short answer is, “Yes, but probably not for very long.” And it’s all theoretical, as nobody’s ever tried it. 747s are massively engineered, and Boeing’s safety record over many years, attests to this. Quite apart from the practical considerations of what would happen to the animate and inanimate contents of the fuselage, it’s more a matter of aerodynamics, than structural integrity. Whether it’s a barrel roll or looping the loop, everything (and I use the word advisedly) would depend on the pilot’s ability to maintain sufficient forward momentum during the manoeuvre. Failure to do this will result in the ‘fasten seatbelts’ signs coming on, followed by CWT – a harmless sounding abbreviation for ‘contact with terrain’.

Enjoy your flight.

Alastair Carthew, a Phuket based writer and communications advisor

Posted under Lifestyle, Travel & Tourism

As more and more travellers choose to beat a path to Thailand, the first pressures manifest themselves at the points of entry – our international airports. Learn what’s being done to keep pace with it all.

The Thai cabinet’s approval in principle of a five year plan (2009-2013) for the development of Phuket International Airport, is a welcome commitment towards growing this vital link in Phuket’s tourism infrastructure.

Without an efficient airport to handle the increasing number of airlines flying directly to Phuket, the island could quickly lose out to competitors like Bali, which is closer to Australia. Phuket’s success as a tourist destination, therefore, depends heavily on the availability of landing slots.

To put this into perspective, in 2009 Thai Airways announced direct flights from Hong Kong; the tiny Happy Air took to the air; Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysian Airlines, returned to the Phuket market; V-Australia, an offshoot of Virgin Blue from Australia, started direct flights; Air Asia continued to expand its network into Phuket, including designating it their second Thailand hub, and Jetstar from Australia announced an alliance with Air Asia. All this adds up to more availability and choice for the traveller.

The 5.7 billion baht makeover of PIA by the Airports Authority of Thailand was announced well over a year ago, but the approval only came through in December. In the meantime, however, it’s evident that the AOT hasn’t waited around for the go ahead. There are already noticeable improvements being implemented at the airport. In the future it will be vital that the makeover is concentrated on basic infrastructural projects like efficient safety and security standards, better immigration interfaces, low-cost carrier facilities and improved car parking; whilst creating an environment within the terminals themselves which is comfortable and efficient.

There’s a worldwide trend amongst airlines to focus on improving the ground services they offer given that transiting and embarking and disembarking from airports today can be stressful and time consuming, because of the stricter security measures.

For the transiting and embarking passenger, in particular, this should include availability of goods and services at reasonable prices, not the outrageous gouging that has become the rule in airports around the world. Terminals need to offer free internet, amusement areas for children, comfortable lounges and, above all, staff who are willing to help. When it comes to customer service Thailand has an advantage because her people are by nature, welcoming and charming. However, this needs to be backed up with sound training programmes.

This year the airport is expected to handle around 6.8 million visitors rising to 12.8 million by 2018. This is a realistic figure given the continued expansionary trend of air traffic to the island. One facility that will not be expanded is the runway, at least not yet. It can comfortably handle a fully laden Boeing 747 Jumbo jet. The only downside is the placement of the runway alongside the ocean. This can project some nasty squalls and winds across the runway from time to time.

PIA is categorised as ‘unranked’ in the Skytrax annual survey of airports. However, this is more a reflection of its size, than the quality of service. Nevertheless, most objective observers would still concede that PIA still has got some way to go to meet the level of services that passengers demand.

Because of its Asian location, PIA has to stand regional comparison with the best five-star (Skytrax ranked) airports in the world – Incheon, Seoul, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok has a three-star ranking, but it too has made considerable progress in improving the basic facilities that were lacking because of opening prematurely. The airport is now able to handle around 43 million passengers a year with a projected maximum capacity of 45 million. The government is already considering doubling this, to handle future demand.

Just for the record, Skyscanner flight search, an internet portal that covers the aviation industry, lists the airlines that fly to Phuket, as follows: Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Malaysian Airlines, SilkAir, Singapore Airlines, Korean Air, China Southern, Asian Airlines, Air Berlin, Transaero Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Dragonair, Shanghai Airlines, Condor, Jetstar, V Australia, China Airlines, Tiger Airways, Ethiad Airways, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Austrian Airlines, SAS, ANA, SkyStar Airways, Gulf Air, Virgin Blue, Air France, Firefly, United Airlines, Air New Zealand, TUIfly, Qantas, Caribbean Star and Blu-express.

Alastair Carthew, a Phuket based writer and communications advisor

Posted under Lifestyle, Travel & Tourism