Suvarnabhumi - A travellers opinion

The airport that took four decades to build remains one of Thailand's most talked about aviation achievments of recent years, if for all the wrong reasons.

Costing an estimated 155 billion baht (US 4.2 billion) it is quite fitting that the name His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej chose for the airport literraly translated into English means, "Golden Land".

Suvarnabumi International Airport finally opened for business as Thailand's main international aviation arrival and departure hub at the end of September 2006.

At the same time Don Muang International Airport was closed for all passenger traffic, much to the derision of Subvarnabhumi's critics who claimed the new airport was not ready to handle the burden of such a large amount of visitors (nearly 38 million in 2006).

Both before and after it's much feted debut Subvarnabhumi suffered a great deal in the media with controversies over everything from cracks in the runways to the lack of toilets in departure and arrival lounges.

The airport finally opened after a number of delays in construction but was overshadowed by the country's recent military coup (which was probably beneficial for the airport by shifting the focus of the international media).

My own experience with the airport was quite positive with a pleasant few hours spent walking aorund the massive amount of shops in the Duty Free area (Armani, Cartier, Chanel, Gucci and Prada, Dunhill, Bally and Mont Blanc) as well as the extensve selection of international eatries and restaurants (Burger King, Sushi bars, Dim Sum joints, a New York Deli, Starbucks and even a few places that served Thai food).

In November I neither saw nor experienced any of the teething problems or construction faults that had been so talked about.

I managed to find a toilet to relieve myself in both in arrivals and departures and I could not see any cracks in the runway. I thought that the airport would do just fine with a little attention and good management.

However, just four weeks later the authorities decided that major work needed to be done and a partial closure was necessary.

While some have labelled this as a politically motivated action aimed at embrassing former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra many others have disagreed citing ongoing construction failures and improper contractual procedures.