(TNA) – The long-delayed Suvarnabhumi airport railway link project is expected to be completed by the end of this year and to open for service early 2009, according to the project manager.

Speaking after leading a media tour to observe construction progress, Banjongsak Panthon, project manager and engineer, said the civil engineering portions of the airport railway link project is some 78.5 per cent complete and that the electrical and mechanical portions are about 80 per cent ready.

He said there is much progress in the construction of the station and railway system, with Tub Chang Station set to become the first to be completed in July. Now, it is 60 per cent complete.

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited received the Best First Class Lounge Award 2007 from Skytrax’s 2006/7 World Airline Survey. Mr. Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax survey organization, said, "THAI’s new Royal First Class Lounge at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport has the most extensive choice of options to satisfy passenger demand, and combines these facilities with exclusive staff service attention to offer what our respondents name as the world’s Best."

In addition, Skytrax awarded THAI second place under the Best Airline of the Year 2007 category, up from fourth place in 2006.

Qantas and British Airways today opened their new Bangkok Business Lounge overlooking the gardens at Survarnabhumi Airport.

Qantas and British Airways Manager Thailand Julianne Rogers said the stylish and contemporary new lounge blends world-class comforts with uniquely Thai touches.

“One of the first things travellers will notice is the stylish, innovative design, featuring luxurious furniture from some of the world’s most renowned manufacturers including Morosso, B&B and Italia Vitta,” said Ms Rogers.

The new stylish and contemporary lounge was designed by renowned Australian-based Woods Bagot. World class finishes include Tai Ping wool carpets from Hong Kong, Florence Broadhurst designed wall coverings. Jim Thompson silk window treatments and wall panels combined with natural timber wall panels help to create a luxurious feeling of warmth and comfort.

Suvarnabhumi airport is preparing to relocate public taxi stands to the second floor of the main airport building, on the same floor as the arrivals terminal, pushing out influential private limousine operators.

Suvarnabhumi airport director Serirat Prasutanond said yesterday that taxi stands would move up from the frontal road on the first floor of the passenger terminal to the second floor after the Songkran festival ends on April 17.

Passengers arriving at the airport exit from immigration and customs checks on the second floor of the new Bangkok airport building.

Mr Serirat said the new system was in line with the original plans set out for transport services at the Suvarnabhumi airport.

Nok Air will shift all of its 58 daily flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport back to Don Muang on March 24, 2007 one day ahead of the Don Muang's official reopening.

The Thai Airways International (THAI) subsidiary will man eight check-in and three ticket-sales counters there. Two of the ticketing counters will be located on the departure level and the other one in the arrival hall.

The budget airline yesterday said two flights from Hat Yai, two from Phuket, one from Nakhon Si Thammarat and one from Chiang Mai were scheduled to land at Don Muang on the night of March 24.