Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, long plagued with corruption allegations prior to opening, earned poor ratings immediately after operation for its cracked runways and malfunctioning skybridges. Suvarnabhumi Airport was expected to not only replace Don Muang’s role in the Asian aviation market but also expand on this reputation to make Bangkok the pre-eminent air hub of Southeast Asia. It has done just the opposite. Despite impressive architecture, the quest to build the world's largest single terminal results in a facility that is far too large to navigate. Trolleys for hand carry items are either in short supply, or inconveniently located, and immigration lines painfully slow. And security scanners are in short supply, resulting in inexcusably long lines to get to your boarding gate. If this were an old airport, many of these faults could be excused. But not for one of the world's newest, and most modern facilities, and at a cost of $3 billion!
Added to these problems, the new airport is too small, already nearing its 45 million passenger capacity. Last year, more than 42 million people flew through Bangkok using the old facility.
KOREA Not only that, shuttling between the two airports is neither hassle free -- nor free, even for connecting passengers. By contrast, passengers to Seoul's modern and efficient Incheon International Airport can now enjoy transit tours while awaiting flight connections for as little as US$5. Five special priced tours are being offered to transit passengers to give them a taste of Korea.
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Also read Rober't article 36 hours in Seoul >>>
SINGAPORE And finally on the Asian airport horizon, Singapore Changi Airport opens its new Terminal 3 in early January 2008. We've always raved about Changi's efficiency. Although it will never win any awards for cutting edge architecture, Singapore knows how to provide efficiency and service: from ultra quick immigration, to plentiful baggage trolleys both outside and inside the terminal. Shopping here is a bargain, as unlike Bangkok, no single company was allowed to monopolize the outlets. (Bangkok's duty free King Power is currently in the courts for alleged collusion.) And individual security scanners are posted at each and every boarding gate, resulting in minimal delays. Likewise, a free train links all the terminals. Singapore's Changi has also got it right about thrift carriers. They are relegated to a separate, cost-efficient no-fuss terminal. The result is cheaper airline overheads, while conversely, servicing the full service airline clients with a better product. Terminal 3 will be able to handle 22 million passengers per year, bringing the total annual passenger-handling capacity of Changi Airport to about 70 million. |
