Thai Airways builds up ground support at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) is ready to roll out its new ground-support equipment services, including cargo and mail units at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The business units expect more work at the new, larger airport where THAI hopes to add 15 airlines to the current clientele list of 67 that it services at Don Muang Airport.

The ground-support equipment services department (GSE) provides equipment-support services for aircraft servicing and loading equipment for passenger baggage, cargo and mail. It also transports passengers between terminals and aircraft, cabin-cleaning as well as equipment maintenance.

The company is transferring from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi 800 pieces of equipment, 1,500 carts and dollies, and about 8,000 loading devices and cargo containers.

"In Thailand, we handle at least 80 per cent of all aircraft movement through the Bangkok station, consisting of passenger aircraft, cargo, charter flights and VIPs," said Pethai Boonyaves, GSE's vice president. "After the new airport is opened, we expect to attract 15 more aircraft from our competitors."

He said facilities at the new airport were on both sides of the airport terminal.

The company is focusing more on cabin-cleaning services. It employs 750 janitors to clean planes. In addition, he said, all of the janitors are trained to spot and check for any unusual objects on board to ensure safety.

The main facilities comprise six buildings; administrative offices, a car park, staff canteen, conference hall, ramp-operation centre, cabin equipment, repair shop and modern maintenance facilities. It has remote maintenance facilities on the western portion of the airport.

Charnchai Singtoroj, vice-president for the cargo and mail commercial department, said THAI's cargo facilities would operate smoothly.

At the beginning of this month, the cargo unit conducted for local freight forwarders a demonstration of the whole system in the duty free zone. THAI also services cargo and mail at the customs-free zone.

The international cargo terminal's expected capacity is 966,000 tonnes per year through 2009 and 1.2 million tonnes a year from 2010 after a second phase is built.

The unit also offers some new services, including a perishable-product centre, which can keep goods cool in large walk-in refrigerators.

Cargo shipments will be X-rayed.

All warehouse areas will be monitored round the clock. This is also to ensure maximum security for its operation. At least 100 security guards are on duty at various locations around the clock.

Walk-through metal detectors have been installed to scan all personnel before they enter the warehouse area.

To support cargo handling in the duty-free zone, the company has purchased two new elevated transfer vehicles. One will be at the customer airline zone; the other will be in the THAI cargo zone.