Transport AOT Unveils Ambitious New Phase for Suvarnabhumi Airport: Fourth Runway & South Terminal

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has announced a major revision of its Suvarnabhumi Airport development masterplan, aiming to significantly increase passenger capacity and strengthen Thailand’s status as a regional aviation hub.

 

Ms. Paweena Jariyathitipong, Acting President and Executive Vice President for Engineering and Construction, revealed on Wednesday that AOT is in the process of revising the Suvarnabhumi development blueprint to accommodate up to 150 million passengers annually by 2031, more than double its current capacity of 65 million.

 

The revised masterplan is expected to be completed by August or September 2025 and will then be submitted to the Cabinet for approval. A key feature of the plan includes the construction of an 81,000-square-metre East Terminal, designed to handle an additional 15 million passengers annually. This project, requiring an investment of 13.52 billion baht, is slated for Cabinet review before moving forward to the bidding and construction stages.

 

The expansion doesn’t stop there. Ms. Paweena detailed plans for a massive South Terminal covering 1.597 million square metres with 150 aircraft bays. In tandem, a fourth runway, Runway 4, will be constructed, boosting flight handling capacity to 120 flights per hour and accommodating 70 million passengers. This phase of the project now has an estimated cost of 170 billion baht, an increase from the previously projected 150 billion.

 

The current phase of Suvarnabhumi (termed the “Existing Phase”) allows for 65 million passengers, 94 flights per hour, and 79 gates over a 516,000-square-metre area. The new projects aim to vastly expand these capabilities.

 

Ms. Paweena emphasised that while the investments are significant, they will not negatively impact AOT’s financial stability. Funding sources will include internal revenue and low-interest loans, including those from international lenders. More concrete financial details are expected to be finalised by September or October 2025.

 

In addition, AOT is seeking investors to lease and develop two prime land plots surrounding the airport. The first, a 548-rai plot, is strategically located near the airport’s public transport hub and major roads such as Suvarnabhumi Roads 2 and 4, Lat Krabang Road, and Bangna-Trad Road. The second, a 462-rai plot accessible via Lat Krabang-Wat Sriwareenoi Road, is considered ideal for an entertainment complex.

 

These developments represent a bold step forward in Thailand’s aviation infrastructure, positioning Suvarnabhumi Airport as a global gateway with world-class facilities and connectivity.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-05-11.

 

 

 

[JoePai]

They just have to spend money and for 150m passengers?  The busiest airport in the world only serves about 100m and Thailand will never beat that

[JimHuaHin]

I await the rains and flooding.

[phil2407]

& the money wasted on the original plan was? 

[hotchilli]

On 5/11/2025 at 2:59 AM, Georgealbert said:

Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has announced a major revision of its Suvarnabhumi Airport development masterplan, aiming to significantly increase passenger capacity and strengthen Thailand’s status as a regional aviation hub.

And what about the transportation infrastructure around the airport?

[harryviking]

On 5/11/2025 at 2:45 AM, JoePai said:

They just have to spend money and for 150m passengers?  The busiest airport in the world only serves about 100m and Thailand will never beat that

LOL! At least the Thais are optimistic! 🤣

[khunjeff]

On 5/10/2025 at 9:59 PM, Georgealbert said:

AOT is in the process of revising the Suvarnabhumi development blueprint to accommodate up to 150 million passengers annually by 2031

 

On 5/10/2025 at 9:59 PM, Georgealbert said:

The revised masterplan is expected to be completed by August or September 2025 and will then be submitted to the Cabinet

 

So they haven't even completed the plan yet, but it will be operational within six years. Uh huh 🧐 

[Burma Bill]

On 5/11/2025 at 2:59 AM, Georgealbert said:

a major revision of its Suvarnabhumi Airport development masterplan,

 

 

Well, it is known as 'swampy''

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

I should be interested in knowing the names of the owners of the two large land plots adjacent to the airport and under consideration for leasing by AOT.

[sandyf]

On 5/11/2025 at 8:28 AM, JimHuaHin said:

I await the rains and flooding.

That old chestnut has been and gone.

Came in 2011, and if they hadn't looked ahead, Bangkok would have been without an airport for about 4 months.

My nephew came over in the Oct for a visit, no problem at the airport but never saw Bangkok due to closed roads.

 

The floods - which killed some 800 people nationwide - forced the flights to transfer to the unaffected Suvarnabhumi international airport, Bangkok's main air hub.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-17267833

[Geoff914]

On 5/11/2025 at 1:45 AM, JoePai said:

They just have to spend money and for 150m passengers?  The busiest airport in the world only serves about 100m and Thailand will never beat that

I think Heathrow is about 80 million a year so nearly double Heathrow. Are they still going to feed it with 3 car ARL trains?

[josephbloggs]

On 5/11/2025 at 8:28 AM, JimHuaHin said:

I await the rains and flooding.

How many times has Suvarnabhumi flooded since it opened?

[josephbloggs]

23 hours ago, hotchilli said:

And what about the transportation infrastructure around the airport?

What about it? It's been designed with that in mind since the start. Road access from the south, and also train access from the south.

What's your opinion on it, how would you have altered the plan? (Yes, I know you don't have an opinion and you know nothing about the plan, you just need to drop a sentence on every thread).