Flooding in Thailand Shuts Down Bangkok's Don Muang Airport

Thai flood waters have breached the barriers erected to protect Don Muang Airport, the second largest in Thailand after Suvarnabhumi Airport- also in Bangkok. Don Muang Airport serves primarily domestic flights. Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand's main international arrival and departure point, has not (yet) been affected by the flooding and is continuing to operate flights as normal.

The flooding could cause up to five feet of water in the capital's lowest areas, though the 9 million residents of Bangkok have been largely unaffected thus far. The flooding of Don Muang Airport adds to the severity of the ongoing Thai flood which has claimed the lives of 366 people and flooded one third of Thailand over the past three months.

If Don Muang Airport floods, it would further aggravate emergency operations, as the Thai government has recently set up the emergency Flood Relief Operations Center and converted a terminal into a shelter for misplaced individuals.

The closing of the airport has caused an increased sense of chaos and added even more uncertainty as to how the Thai government will be able to avert further damage and provide disaster relief to those afflicted by the flood.

For a more in-depth article on the situation, see this: http://news.yahoo.com/thai-floods-shut-bangkoks-second-largest-airport-164107578.html

THAI Airways Expansion

Two months after being awarded 5th place in the World's Best Airline category at the World Airline Awards in June 2011 (a considerable climb compared to 2010's 9th place ranking), THAI Airways has just announced the launch of a new low-fare airline to take place in July 2012.


Thai Smile Air- a fitting name for the "Land of Smiles" country- will operate out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok and will feature a fleet of eleven Airbus 320 aircrafts, each with a seating capacity of 174 passengers. The airline will initially serve secondary route markets within Thailand such as Ubon Ratchathani and Chiang Rai, with the goal of expanding internationally as early as 2013.

This is not the only bit of expanding THAI Airways has on its plate in the near future. A statement by THAI President, Mr. Piyasvasti, made clear that "Thai Smile will not affect THAI's plans to also launch Thai Tiger Airways, a discount carrier in partnership with Singapore's Tiger Airways, which will materialise as soon as possible."