The airport, which has been in operations for just 18 months, is already running near its
maximum handling capacity of 45 million passengers per year.
It saw 40 million passengers in its first year. According to a meeting between the Transport
Ministry, Airports of Thailand and Department of Civil Aviation, the expansion plan, which is planned for completion by 2013, aims to increase the airport’s handling capacity to 60 million passengers per year.
The ten planned development projects will include a third runway, an automated people
mover, and a noise pollution reduction scheme.
Member airlines of the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) have been lobbying AoT and
Thailand’s Transport Ministry since the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport to start the development of the midfield terminal and third runway.
BAR also cited the congested traffic and the higher landing fees at Suvarnabhumi Airport
had deterred airlines from adding flights into Thailand.
AoT also plans to launch a new strategy to boost revenue at its six airports by earning more
from non-aeronautical activities and bringing down landing fees to make Thailand a more
attractive destination.
Suvarnabhumi Airport embarks on urgent US$2.3 billion expansion
BANGKOK Airports of Thailand (AoT) has announced a US$2.32 billion second-phase expansion of the congested Suvarnabhumi Airport will begin this year.
