THAI prepares plan for runway maintenance at Suvarnabhumi Airport

BANGKOK, Feb 24 (TNA) -- Thailand's national flag carrier, Thai Airways or THAI is preparing a plan to cope with a 2-month long maintenance on one lane of the runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport, ensuring that the airline has a special plan to deal with delayed flight, while advising passengers to arrive at the airport ahead of time. Acting President of THAI Ms Usanee Saengsingkeao said that since the Suvarnabhumi Airport's announcements to temporary closed off a lane of the runway for repairs, between March 3- May 5 or about 60 days, the company has foreseen that the closure might affect the take off and landing of airplanes during specific time periods, as the airport usually see high volume of air traffic. She said the upcoming maintenance could delay both inbound and outbound flights for the airline. Ms Usanee, however, noted that THAI has already prepared a plan to handle the problem, by taking into account aviation safety as the main concern, in which the airline is set to increase fuel reserve on each flight to ensure that fuel usage coincides with the air traffic condition, as well as an emergency plan to land a flight at a backup airport. Moreover, she said, the company has also set up an operational centre to coordinate and solve unexpected problems. As for the conveniences of passengers, the airline is set to increase the number of ground staff to provide better assistance to passengers, particularly for those on connecting flight, while suggesting to all passengers to always arrive at the airport ahead of the departure during this period. (TNA)