Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport diverted 11 flights to smaller airports due to subsidence on a taxiway, airport officials said today.

The flights were diverted to airports around the country late yesterday while workers filled a hole 5cm deep and 60cm across in the western taxiway, Suvarnabhumi Airport director Somchai Sawatdeepon said.

The US3.8 billion airport, built on a swamp to the east of the capital, has suffered from subsidence under its taxiways and runways since it opened in 2006.

Half of the 4,000m eastern runway has been under repair since June 27. “The subsidence problem happened because now all the large jets are just using the western runway, which is putting too much of a load on the taxiways,” Somchai said.

He acknowledged that Suvarnabhumi’s problems with subsidence “had happened many times before.” Repairs on the eastern runway are scheduled for completion by Aug 2.

- dpa