Thailand Looks to Bolster Suvarnabhumi Airport as Southeast Asia's Top Transit Hub

[snoop1130]

 

The Suvarnabhumi Airport, internationally renowned and Thailand's busiest, is in for a significant overhaul with plans to be the top transit hub in Southeast Asia. The Airports of Thailand (AOT) have released an ambitious master plan aimed at boosting the percentages of transit flights from a mere 4% to a lofty 20%. The ultimate aim is to join the ranks of the world's top 20 airports by the year 2030.

 

“Our goal is to accentuate Suvarnabhumi's strength as a regional hub by increasing transit flights to at least the 20% mark," said AOT President Keerati Kitmanawat. "Currently, we are only at 4%, while Singapore's Changi Airport has 40% of its flights under the transit category."

 

To attain these lofty goals, AOT is looking at embedding themselves into discussions with leading airlines that include Thai Airways International and Star Alliance members. Their purpose is to establish more transit traffic at Suvarnabhumi. The AOT will also dip into its pockets to massively boost infrastructure. This ramping up has already begun, with the recent inauguration of a third runway which has escalated hourly capacity from 68 to a staggering 94 flights.

 

 

Further projections include a proposed expansion of the East Terminal, which will be a 9-billion-baht project expected to receive cabinet approval in December. This expansion, slated for completion in 2027, will add carrying capacity to the tune of 15 million passengers on an annual basis.

 

In a move to modernise, AOT will roll out an advanced biometric identification system across six Thai airports. This should augur well for the cause of both security and passenger convenience. This system, reliant on facial recognition, has already been launched for domestic passengers and is set to be available for international travellers from December 1st.

 

With its portfolio of six airports, including Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, AOT accounts for a staggering 95% of Thailand’s air traffic. This firmly establishes Thailand as a major player in both regional and international aviation. Thus, the transformation of Suvarnabhumi Airport, by embracing transit flights and state-of-the-art infrastructure, offers a dynamic new chapter in Asian aviation.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-11-15

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

Suvarnabhumi v Singapore Airport.

Hmm - that may take a while to become No 1.