Air France-KLM ready for September 28th takeoff

Air France-KLM says it is ready to start operating at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sept 28, despite criticism from some airlines that the opening has been rushed. Francis Richard, the airline's general manager for Southeast Asia, said its operations and facilities, including a large lounge for premium passengers, would be "absolutely" ready by then.

From a technical point of view, the airline's system at Suvarnabhumi was ready, while other aspects of its operations, including the ticket office and check-in counters, would start services on Sept 28, the French executive said.

Air France-KLM is one of the few foreign carriers to have announced that it is ready to move from Bangkok International Airport (Don Muang) to the new site that has been four decades in the making.

Executives of many airlines have said privately that carriers had been forced to rush to establish themselves.

Some have gone so far as to say that Thailand's air transport runs a high risk of severe disruption, if not paralysis, due to what they see as a premature opening for the 125-billion-baht facility.

About 90 international carriers operate 600-700 flights a day, dealing with about 110,000 passengers, through Don Muang.

Mr Richard said Air France had decided to use a larger aircraft - a Boeing 747 jumbo jet - for its flights through Bangkok, which start on Nov 1, replacing the smaller Airbus A340 aircraft with 272 seats.

The replacement, which will result in a 60% increase in seat capacity, is a response to stronger demand, especially during the European winter season.

Air France would continue to operate daily flights from Paris to Bangkok, before flying further to Vietnam, four times a week to Ho Chi Minh city airport, and three times a week to Hanoi airport, he said.

KLM, the Dutch flag carrier taken over by Air France in 2004, will also continue daily flights from Amsterdam to Bangkok, before continuing to Taipei, using a 747 passenger/cargo plane with 278 seats.KLM wanted a higher-capacity plane for the route, but none were available.