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.

[Iron Tongue]

Yes, Suvarnabhumi with 4% of total SE Asian flights vs Singapore's Changi Airport which has 40%... you can barely notice the difference!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NoDisplayName]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the top transit hub in Southeast Asia

 

Another hub announcement?

 

Today must end in a "Y".

[drgoon]

Hahahahahahaha..  gotta be consistent I guess

[daveAustin]

Thailand Looks to Bolster Suvarnabhumi Airport
 

That’s all AOT needed to say.   Everything else in that title thereafter is superfluous. 

[thaibeachlovers]

Swampy is a disaster with the traffic it already gets. I can't begin to imagine the horror if it did become an international hub.

However, I doubt any other country will agree, as they probably know how Thailand manages to mess things like that up.

 

The only thing that exceeded other airports was the height of the control tower.

[thaibeachlovers]

28 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Thailand Looks to Bolster Suvarnabhumi Airport
 

That’s all AOT needed to say.   Everything else in that title thereafter is superfluous. 

I'd say it's the usual attempt to create something that involves a large amount of money which can then be diverted to the usual suspects.

[NemoH]

For years I have wondered why Thailand had not taken any serious effort in doing this… 

 

If you look at locations, Thailand is better located than Singapore in that within a 2-3 hour flight range, Thailand connects with more countries or cities than Singapore. 
 

The fight is in Thailand favour - but the Thais need to step up effort in system facilities and infrastructures. 
 

Strange that Singapore Changi airport has always been no.1. Surprisingly, Changi Airport has no direct dedicated speed train or public bus connectivity into the city and it takes 45 min into the city by taxi n more than 1 hour by a transit rail which stops at more than 15-20 stops. Compare this alone with Hong Kong n Thailand, Singapore Changi fails. 

Edited 5 hours ago by NemoH

[Srikcir]

Becoming more popular in airports are single and double sleeping pods, ie., Hanoi Noi Bai airport. See video by Probably Lost.

There is Boxtel near the airport about 4km away. How successful has this been for transit traveller's?

[RichardColeman]

I mean seriously , who cares what an airport looks like ? You are only there for maybe 3 hours going out and an hour coming in (on a good day).

 

If it does the job , I'd rather have it just a concrete block and reduce all the costs in the shops by 50% and more staff clearing you through

[Aussie999]

3 hours ago, Iron Tongue said:

Yes, Suvarnabhumi with 4% of total SE Asian flights vs Singapore's Changi Airport which has 40%... you can barely notice the difference!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice photo angle... but hardly even similar

[Luuk Chaai]

Thailand giving Heinz a run for their money 

[Andrew65]

It will be tough trying to lure airlines away from long-established hubs at Singapore and HK. Also, some years ago B A & QANTAS dropped Bangkok from it's 'Kangaroo' routes between Oz & Europe?

Edited 1 hour ago by Andrew65

[AhFarangJa]

May I suggest they fix what they already have first. The Air Conditioning for one.

[Robin]

"The Suvarnabhumi Airport, internationally renowned ".... For its long lines and slow, surly, immigration officers.

Also try taking baggage on the Airport rail link.   Txi to town compared with S9ingapore; no nonsense about 'highway charge' in Singapore.