Thailand: Full-scale launch of U-tapao airport pushed back once again

The full-scale commercial launch of the upgraded U-tapao airport in Rayong has been put off again, this time until the end of the year. Teething problems with the 1.7-b-baht expansion, initially slated to open this month, have forced the airport to be delayed by some five months. After the new passenger terminal was put to the test in an intensive trial recently, it was decided some adjustments needed to be made with more time required to put certain facilities in place. "We would rather spend more time perfecting our facility before declaring ourselves fully-commercially operational, because we don't want to open too soon and discover some problems have yet to be ironed out," said Worapol Tongpricha, director of U-tapao Airport Authority (UAA). One problem the airport authority is looking to solve before opening is the passenger flow layout, which needs to be reviewed to ensure domestic and international passengers are separated by a glass "curtain wall" that does not pose a security threat. The launch of the airport has also been delayed by the installation of two sets of aerobridges, which are behind schedule and expected to be completed over the next four months.<br/>