Flubbed Fundamentals Force Fix

It's amazing that such basic design issues could have been so badly mishandled. But then, it's said that experienced companies had to bow out of the bidding process because they were unable to cough up the 30-40% surcharge, leaving the field to connected companies that had been set up specifically to bid for and win Suvarnabhumi projects.

1.5 billion baht needed to fix problems at new airport
Bangkok Post, Perspective, 2 January 2007

Problems at Suvarnabhumi Airport will require about 1.5 billion baht (US$41.7 million; euro31.7 million ) to fix, a top official said late Tuesday.

The airport began operating with great fanfare on Sept. 28, taking over both domestic and international flights from Bangkok's old airport at Don Muang.

However, several flaws immediately became apparent, including misplaced baggage, a shortage of toilets and seats at waiting areas as well as noise pollution.

"We have identified altogether 61 problems and the timeframe has been set for each," said Yodyiam Teptaranon, a member of the board of directors of the Airports of Thailand.

He said additional toilets would be built by April while air conditioning problems and the seat shortage would be fixed by February.

Priority will be given to problems involving runways and lengths of electrical wires that connect the main building to the planes, said Yodyiam.