ID :
32999
Sat, 11/29/2008 - 22:31
Auther :

THAI CARGO OPERATORS MOVE GOODS TO MALAYSIA By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Cargo operators affected by the closure of two
Bangkok airports are switching to land transporation to export their goods to
the rest of the world through facilities in Penang and KL International Airport
(KLIA).

The move came as operators try to reduce the heavy losses suffered after
the
shutdown of the Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Don Muang Airport on Thursday that
caused a huge cargo backlog, with an estimated Bt10 billion (US$280.7
miliion)losses per day.

Thailand Board of Investment said the situation also affects raw material
supplies, which interrupts goods production and may also affect about 200,000
people in related businesses.

To help ease difficulties to transport cargo in and out of the country, the
Customs Department will open the customs checkpoint in Sadao district near the
Thai-Malaysia border round-the-clock.

In the meantime, Thai Airways International is seeking more cargo planes
and
add airport cargo handling equipment and facility at the Utapao Airport near
Pattaya.

According to the Electronics and Computer Manufacturers' Association,
which
has more than 50 member companies with over Bt30 billion (US$842.2 million)
investment and over Bt700 billion (US$19.7 billion) value in total, many
manufacturers had to use the Utapao Airport or transport their goods through
Singapore or Penang and Kuala Lumpur airports in Malaysia.

The association reported that during the past two days, Thai electronic
part
manufacturers and their customers have been severely affected by delayed
deliveries and their foreign customers had to defer production plan.

An executive of a major logistic provider here said the switch to Malaysian
airports involved only a slight increase in cost but the main impact was the
delay in meeting delivery deadlines.

"This particularly affects electronics and electrical firms as they
normally
export through air," he said.

Bangkok is one of the important air cargo hub in the region, handling three
per cent of world cargo.

The Suvarnabhumi Airport serves about 100 airlines with flights to 184
cities in 68 countries, handling 100,000 passengers a day.
-- BERNAMA

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