BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- It's brand-spanking new, touted as state-of-the-art, but Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport has so many problems that some airlines wonder if it's safe.

A local news cameraman photographs a damaged section of the taxiway at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, Jan. 25, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The international airport, which opened in September, was supposed to make Thailand's capital Southeast Asia's leading air hub.

    "There is so much bad news about this airport -- and so much that needs to be fixed," said Yodiam Teptaranon, a board member of Airports of Thailand, or AOT, the national airport authority. "Everything seems to be happening all at once. It makes everyone concerned."

    A study by AOT's board has found 61 problems and design flaws that need to be repaired at an estimated cost of 1.5 billion baht (45 million U.S. dollars). It hopes the problems can be corrected within six months and sees no need to close the airport during repairs.

    The most urgent problem is cracks on the tarmac. Airport authorities said more than 100 cracks were found in taxiways leading to Suvarnabhumi's two runways early last week. The cracks first were discovered about two weeks after the airport opened and have spread to 25 separate locations, said Somchai Sawasdeepon, the airport's general manager.

    As a result, planes are unable to use 11 out of 51 air bridges for boarding aircraft, causing inconvenience to passengers who are shuttled by bus to and from their planes.

    While authorities insist the problems at Suvarnabhumi pose no threat to safety, the timing couldn't be worse for Thailand. The country is struggling to shield its tourism industry from a spate of recent bad publicity, including months of anti-government protests that culminated in the military coup and deadly bombings in Bangkok on New Year's Eve.

    Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen recommended on Monday that Bangkok's old Don Muang airport be reopened for domestic flights that do not connect to international routes. The reopening, which is expected to get Cabinet approval next week, would help ease congestion while repairs are made at Suvarnabhumi and could be permanent, he said.

    Thira admitted last week that "some airlines have concerns" about the airport's safety.

    Thailand's Department of Civil Aviation decided on Friday to delay renewal of the airport's international safety certificate, known as its Aerodrome Certificate, because repairs to taxiways were not yet finished. The airport can continue to operate without the license -- Bangkok's old Don Muang airport never had one -- but the announcement delivered yet another image blow.

    Suvarnabhumi is the gateway for millions of tourists who flock to Thailand every year for its white-sand beaches. So far, tour agencies say they've seen no fallout and officials report despite last year's political instability Thailand recorded its highest number of tourists ever -- 13.8 million, up nearly 20 percent from 2005.

    (Agencies)