Caretaker Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has conducted a thorough inspection of the new Satellite Airport Terminal 1 (SAT-1) at Suvarnabhumi Airport, ahead of its anticipated soft launch next month. He was accompanied by prominent caretaker cabinet members, including Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda.

 

During the visit, Gen Prayut took a ride on the Automated People Mover (APM) train, which conveniently connects the new terminal with the primary passenger terminal.

 

The premier said his visit aimed to provide an update on the progress of Phase 2 construction within the Suvarnabhumi Airport development plan, concentrating particularly on the upcoming SAT-1 terminal. The terminal, poised for a soft opening in September, is set to significantly enhance the airport’s passenger handling capacity.

 

The facility is projected to accommodate approximately 15 million passengers annually, thereby elevating the airport’s overall capacity to handle a total of 60 million passengers per year.

 

By Adam Judd

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/08/13/bangkoks-suvarnabhumi-airport-prepares-to-open-new-satellite-terminal-in-september/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-08-14

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

 

So what is it supposed to do...???

Apart from the meaningless political hype ............

Edited August 13, 20232 yr by bluejets

Will the new terminal funnel its additional 15 million passengers to the existing Immigrations hall in the current/main terminal?

Satellite terminal?

Geostationary or low orbit? 

The new terminal may be ready to go but I doubt if they have enough people to handle an increase in passengers.  They definitely need to add people at the check-in counters, immigration and baggage handlers.

 

it will be nice if they eliminate the bus gates.  I fly between Chiang Rai and Bangkok every month and 30-40% of the time I end up at a bus gate either upon arrival or departure.

Edited August 14, 20232 yr by statman78

2 hours ago, wpcoe said:

Will the new terminal funnel its additional 15 million passengers to the existing Immigrations hall in the current/main terminal?

Yes. It's actually a concourse, not a terminal, so it will only add more gates. There will be no additional check-in, security, immigration, or baggage claim, making one wonder just how it will increase passenger handling capacity by this remarkable amount.

8 hours ago, bluejets said:

So what is it supposed to do...???

Apart from the meaningless political hype ............

I suggest you wait until the APM's report on his thorough inspection is released. Somewhere in the thousand pages of text above his signature will be the information you seek. Me? I'm waiting for details on the moving walkway people-eaters.

Hong Kong has similar works good……you need to try arriving a little earlier….. …. 

In other words, since there is no extra service booths (immigration, security, baggage)  to absorb the extra simultaneous flow in the halls, the queue will go from 1hour  to double ?

14 hours ago, bluejets said:

So what is it supposed to do...???

Apart from the meaningless political hype ............

What do you think that an airport terminal is "supposed to do"?

12 hours ago, statman78 said:

The new terminal may be ready to go but I doubt if they have enough people to handle an increase in passengers.

What do you base that bizarre speculation on?

11 hours ago, khunjeff said:

There will be no additional check-in, security, immigration, or baggage claim

Where has that been stated?

12 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

In other words, since there is no extra service booths (immigration, security, baggage)

How do you know that to be the case?

14 hours ago, Muhendis said:

Satellite terminal?

Geostationary or low orbit? 

Maybe it's the talked about spaceport...

Edited August 14, 20232 yr by StayinThailand2much

15 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What do you base that bizarre speculation on?

Based on experience.  When the country started to open up after Covid the airport was understaffed.  There were hugh lines at immigration, extremely long lines to check in and at times over a hour wait to claim luggage.

 

After living in Thailand for a number of years I see that the officials in Thailand are reactionary not proactive.  Just look at how they handle the annual flooding and extreme air pollution.  The government does star addressing issues until the start to happen.

 

I hope this is not the case this time since I fly on a monthly basis.  I always hope for the best but plan for the worst.

17 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Where has that been stated?

More to the point, where has the opposite been stated, in this land where the caretaker government would never miss an opportunity to boast about some grand new operation for which they could claim credit?

 

Obviously you're trolling - and rather aggressively - but if you've been to Suvarnabhumi any time in the last year, you will have seen the entry/exit for the train to the satellite gates in the middle of Concourse D, right across from immigration (the current immigration, not a new one).

 

If you'd like to hear from the companies that designed and built the satellite, you can take a look at the articles below. If they really did include a complete new terminal facility in addition to the new gates, it's odd that they're keeping it secret.

 

https://www.otcpd.com/projects/airports/suvarnabhumi-satellite

 

https://www.hok.com/projects/view/suvarnabhumi-international-airport-midfield-satellite-concourse/

 

20 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

How do you know that to be the case?

How do you know that not to be ?

I hope they employ eno.ugh staff to manage properly and not leave half the desks closed, which is what they do at Swampy