Suvarnabhumi Airport Phase Two to Begin Soon

Yes, you read that right. Although Thailand’s flagship airport was just opened 18 months ago there are already plans for phase two to begin as early as this year.

Since the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport in September of 2006 it has been plagued with problems from not enough bathrooms to cracks in the runways. There were also delays and passenger over crowding between international and domestic flights. To ease crowds Don Muang , the old international airport , was recommissioned to accept all domestic flights.

The expansion will begin this year with construction work starting on a new 3.7 billion baht runway which will give Suvarnabhumi a third, much needed, runway. 114 million baht is slated to be spent this year on studies for future projects which includes a new passenger terminal which is set to begin construction sometime in 2010.

Word has it that newly elected government officials are not happy with the situation of Don Muang handling domestic flights and they want to see Suvarnabhumi take them back over as soon as possible. Don Muang should only be available for charter flights and air shows they stated. No timetable has been given for the move of domestic flights back to Suvarnabhumi but some estimates say it will be at least five to eight years before they could be transitioned back to Suvarnabhumi ,if then.

The new airport can handle up to 45 million passengers and figures show that they are getting close to that number now so a new terminal will definitely help ease crowding and help to bring domestic flights back to the airport.