Khon Kaen Airport Expects 5 Million Yearly Passengers

[webfact]

 

by Paul Rujopakarn

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Authorities are expecting Khon Kaen Airport to handle 5 million annual passengers after its expansion is officially completed next month.

 

With a 2-billion-baht budget approved by the Cabinet in 2017, the expansion includes the renovation and construction of passenger terminals, as well as parking buildings, to facilitate more passengers.

 

A newly constructed terminal building will be connected to the renovated structure, allowing the airport to handle 2,000 passengers per hour or 5 million per year.

 

Last year, Khon Kaen Airport reported 1.4 million passengers on around 10,000 flights, representing increases of 150% and 123%, respectively, over the same period in 2021.

 

Deputy Government Spokesperson Tipanan Sirichana said the airport expansion is part of the government’s eight-year national strategy to strengthen Thailand’s transportation network.

 

Thailand is expected to receive 27.5 million foreign arrivals this year, up from 21.5 million projected earlier, helped by more tourist arrivals from China.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230208102413096

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-02-08

 

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[JoePai]

So because it will be bigger and looks prettier the passenger numbers will jump from 1.4m to 5m - please explain

[JustThisOnePostOnly]

19 minutes ago, JoePai said:

So because it will be bigger and looks prettier the passenger numbers will jump from 1.4m to 5m - please explain

Increased capacity should mean lower airfares which in turn should attract a greater number of visitors.

 

I'll be taking the train.

[Bangkok Barry]

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the old airport. I used it many dozens of times over the years and it was never, ever overcrowded, either at check-in, passport/ID control or anywhere else. Even the car park was never empty if you drove to the lower levels. So one wonders why they felt a need to spend 2 billion on something that didn't need fixing. Well, we know why, don't we,  And now they're spending who knows how much on work at Roi Et, which has a massive three flights a day.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Last year, Khon Kaen Airport reported 1.4 million passengers on around 10,000 flights, representing increases of 150% and 123%, respectively, over the same period in 2021.

No mention of the extra flights needed to reach those figures?

[bangon04]

Thay were so encouraged by the huge success at the new HuaHin airport......

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

So one wonders why they felt a need to spend 2 billion on something that didn't need fixing.

With the greatest respect, the airport did need expansion IMHO. Like your good-self, pre-pandemic, I also used the airport many times flying with Air Asia  Fly-Thru to international destinations in Burma (pre Junta), Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (all via DMK). I was a Volunteer with the local Tourist Police and often manned the TP information Desk in the arrival hall. In those days there were only 2 covered walkways linking aircraft with the Terminal Building, and in many instances during busy periods, passengers had to alight/board aircraft via steps from the apron. So, the addition of a third walkway (with a third baggage carousel?) and new terminal building is welcome. In the early days of planning and construction of the new building, plans were already being made for direct International flights from KKC to Laos and China which, unfortunately, were scuppered by Covid-19.  Maybe one day these flights become a reality, perhaps with others direct to Vietnam (there is a Consulate in Khon Kaen for visas), Malaysia and Singapore. On the downside would be the increased aircraft noise for local residents. 

Edited February 8, 2023 by Burma Bill
additional information

[Bangkok Barry]

16 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

With the greatest respect, the airport did need expansion IMHO. Like your good-self, pre-pandemic, I also used the airport many times flying with Air Asia  Fly-Thru to international destinations in Burma (pre Junta), Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (all via DMK). I was a Volunteer with the local Tourist Police and often manned the TP information Desk in the arrival hall. In those days there were only 2 covered walkways linking aircraft with the Terminal Building, and in many instances during busy periods, passengers had to alight/board aircraft via steps from the apron. So, the addition of a third walkway (with a third baggage carousel?) and new terminal building is welcome. In the early days of planning and construction of the new building, plans were already being made for direct International flights from KKC to Laos and China which, unfortunately, were scuppered by Covid-19.  Maybe one day these flights become a reality, perhaps with others direct to Vietnam (there is a Consulate in Khon Kaen for visas), Malaysia and Singapore. On the downside would be the increased aircraft noise for local residents. 

I hear you. But the passengers sometimes having to walk across the tarmac is nothing to do with congestion but because airlines don't want to pay for use of an airbridge. Easy to notice if you fly to DM in Bangkok with Air Asia, and planes often park remotely even though there are dozens of empty bays available.

As for whether the old facilities would have been overwhelmed by passengers from Laos and China and Vietnam, only time will tell if the questionable must-see delights of the region will pull them in. There might be a few adventurous souls, but enough to justify completely re-building the airport and spending two billion? Questionable to put it mildly.

[ningnong]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Last year, Khon Kaen Airport reported 1.4 million passengers on around 10,000 flights, representing increases of 150% and 123%, respectively, over the same period in 2021.

Ridiculous statistics comparing airport traffic during and immediately after the pandemic.

 

For a different perspective:

The airport has seen an annual growth rate of 20 percent annually since 2013, handling around two million passengers in 2017. The Department of Airports (DOA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to upgrade Khon Kaen Airport by 2021. The two billion baht project will increase passenger capacity from 2.8 million to five million per year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khon_Kaen_Airport

And a quote from 2018, source not allowed to mention here:

"In the near future, he (Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith) said, the airport will also provide service to several cities in China."

 

[ningnong]

7 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the old airport. I used it many dozens of times over the years and it was never, ever overcrowded, either at check-in, passport/ID control or anywhere else.

And I thought Don Muang was perfectly fine before Suwanphum. Flew in and out domestic and international without problem dozens of times over the years so why build a new airport? Big waste of money.

 

But I do miss the laid back atmosphere of the Khon Kaen airport prior to expansion.

[3NUMBAS]

why /??  is the nitelife suddenly very goood??

 

 

[spidermike007]

Between KK and the new Pattaya airport, no need for Swampy anymore. That is 45 million alone! Way to go guys.