Does anyone know what the IATA airport code for Suvarnabhumi Airport (New Bangkok International Airport) will be? The one at Don Muang is of course BKK, but I'm not sure they can simply transfer an airport code to a new location, seems like I've heard it's pegged to geographic coordinates/compass headings, etc. Also we don't know yet whether Don Muang may continue on as a hub for domestic and/or budget airlines.

I would assume this code would have already been assigned (if different from BKK) but I can't find any info on it.

I've searched online, and no IATA code references even mention Suvarnabhumi.

...but I'm not sure they can simply transfer an airport code to a new location

Under some circumstances apparently they can with KUL (Kuala Lumpur) and HKG (Hong Kong) both being recent examples of such a reassignment.

I've searched online, and no IATA code references even mention Suvarnabhumi.

Perhaps expressing IATA's confidence regarding the opening date for the new airport?

If Don Muang remains open (as has been discussed, for use by some of the budget carriers), then Suvarnabhumi will obviously have to use a new code.

Huh, we have a new airport nearly ready, hmmm, did we forgot to ask IATA for an aiport code? LOL

...but I'm not sure they can simply transfer an airport code to a new location

Under some circumstances apparently they can with KUL (Kuala Lumpur) and HKG (Hong Kong) both being recent examples of such a reassignment.

I've searched online, and no IATA code references even mention Suvarnabhumi.

Perhaps expressing IATA's confidence regarding the opening date for the new airport?

Completely missed thinking of the examples of KUL and HKG. Then I suppose we can assume that there will be no flight services out of Don Muang once Suvarnabhumi is open.

Suvarnabhumi Airport will take over the BKK code.

DonM will have to find a new code.

The airport has already been nicnamed Bummy and/or Boomy, by the scallywags, is due to open Sept 2005........ but don't hold your breath

Huh, we have a new airport nearly ready, hmmm, did we forgot to ask IATA for an aiport code? LOL

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George will continue to be an optimist in 2005

If Don Muang remains open (as has been discussed, for use by some of the budget carriers), then Suvarnabhumi will obviously have to use a new code.

Not necessarily. The old Kuala Lumpur airport was renamed as SZB and KUL was reassigned to the new Kuala Lumpur International when it opened. I'm not sure whether SZB is still used for commercial flights but for a while, Malaysia Airlines was offering some domestic routes from there.

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT: Terminal delayed by 6 months

Published on December 08, 2004

Ital-Thai: passenger, docking areas won't be ready till April '06 ...........

Link

Suvarnabhumi Airport will take over the BKK  code.

DonM will have to find a new code.

The airport has already been nicnamed Bummy and/or Boomy, by the scallywags, is due to open Sept 2005........ but don't hold your breath

Thanks, Udon. What's your source for this info? The Suvarnbhumi Airport website doesn't mention the code, nor does 2bangkok.com (or if they do, I can't find the reference).

Thanks.

Suvarnabhumi Airport will take over the BKK  code.

DonM will have to find a new code.

The airport has already been nicnamed Bummy and/or Boomy, by the scallywags, is due to open Sept 2005........ but don't hold your breath

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Thanks, Udon. What's your source for this info? The Suvarnbhumi Airport website doesn't mention the code, nor does 2bangkok.com (or if they do, I can't find the reference).

Thanks.

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Professional pilots forum. i posted your query yesterday.

Professional pilots forum. i posted your query yesterday.

you the man, thanks Udon!

The new Bangkok airport would most likely assume the city code and primary airport as it will handle by far the majority of flights. London for example which has 4 airports. LON is the CITY code, LHR for Heathrow, LGW for Gatwick, etc. Paris city code is PAR but Charles De Gaul airport in CDG, Orly is ORL from memory. New York is NYC, John F Kennedy airport is JFK, Newark is EWR etc. Cities with multiple airports rarely have one airport and the city with the same code, unless the primary airport handles something like 95%+ of flights. So for example Singapore (Changi) is SIN and Seletar is something different however 99.9% of commercial flights go into Changi (SIN).

In airline res systems booking terms, you can choose the city code (eg LON) or specify an airport - the airline res systems then show flights based on your preferences. e.g if you ask for flights from BKK (Bangkok) to LHR (London Heathrow), you will be shown only services into Heathrow. If however you selected BKK to LON (London) you will be shown flights into all London airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and London City. However if you selected BKK (Bangkok) to SIN (Singapore) you will only be shown flights to Changi. Its mostly based on historic precedence and is really quite simple.