Breaking News - Business

Bangkok's main airport to expand

Airports of Thailand, the nation's biggest airport operator, plans to spend 78 Billion Baht to expand Bangkok's main international airport to accommodate rising travel demand.

The expansion will take place between 2009 and 2014, senior executive vice president Kulya Pakakrong said.

The investment is part of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's plan help the airfield compete with other Asian cities including Singapore.

Samak has pledged to spend as much as 1.5 Trillion Baht in the next four years on transport and other infrastructure projects to spur economic growth in Thailand.

- Bloomberg / (26 mins ago)

Edited August 25, 200818 yr by sriracha john

I bet King Power will be happy with that.

78 billion baht, less 76 billion contributed by a well known Thai benefactor, leaves 2 billion baht left to find. Affordable.

When will they be renaming the airport after the benefactor ?

Not bashing, but have to say, this just shows typical Thai mentality. Only think of the "now" never about the future.

This airport is brand new, at great expense (probably 50% of which was, ahem, lost) surely to goodness on a major project of this size you build it big enough to cope with future traffic increases?

It was always going to expand. That's why there's a big fenced off area on the south side of the central taxiway with a large banner on it mentioning the second stage.

It was (is) my understanding as well that there was always a plan to expand. The only thing is, they reached their expected (full) capacity far sooner than expected.

I think they weren't expecting to reach the peak for another 5 years or so, but over the Christmas/New Years period, were already maxed out. Bad "guess-timations" by the planners, or just an unexpected increase in travellers ?

Either way, the need to expand (and try to maintain their status as the travel "hub" of SE Asia) became obvious much sooner than expected.

Considering the fact that it has been "in the works" for 40+ years, I am surprised that the first iteration was not a quonset hut next to a grass strip.

A few more coups & they won't need it.

78 Billion baht and what, only 1 additional restroom!

So after the expanison one will then expect to walk for a full day, as opposed to a 1/2 day to get to their gate.

78 Billion baht and what, only 1 additional restroom!

So after the expanison one will then expect to walk for a full day, as opposed to a 1/2 day to get to their gate.

dimly indirect lit, headache inducing gate!

Will it become a bigger barn !

The new part will not be connected to the check-in terminal. That means more walk! (Yes!)

After check in, you will have to find the way to a secret underground train station and that train would take you to the concourse H, I, J, K and L, M, N, O.

The only difference is that each of these concourses are 1/2 the size of the concourses of the main terminal. So expect only to have gate H1 to H4, not H1, H1A, H1B, H2, H2A, H2B, H3, H4 like concourse A-G.

The new part will not be connected to the check-in terminal. That means more walk! (Yes!)

After check in, you will have to find the way to a secret underground train station and that train would take you to the concourse H, I, J, K and L, M, N, O.

The only difference is that each of these concourses are 1/2 the size of the concourses of the main terminal. So expect only to have gate H1 to H4, not H1, H1A, H1B, H2, H2A, H2B, H3, H4 like concourse A-G.

Where are you getting this from? What makes you think it won't operate as an independent terminal with it's own check in facilities?

you will have to find the way to a secret underground train station

Would that underground train happen to reside down here???

(Pics taken under Suvarnabhumi before security had really tightened.... Poor phone cam at the time )