As I understand it, the domestic airport will remain at Don Meurng.

How will one travel between the two?

Well a light rail system is the current plan to link the two airports, but they haven't constructed the rail system yet. Hopefully when the airport opens in a few years they will have made progress - however think coach, and taxi will be the most likely mode of transport.

I might add that Domestic flights might also go out of the new airport, some debate on how Don Muang might be used, so the above information might prove moot.

Edited November 28, 200520 yr by britmaveric

For those low cost carriers that might choose to remain at Don Maung (and JetStar Asia is one carrier that has commented publicly about their desire to remain at DM due to lower costs, i.e. landing fees, rents, etc.) after Suvarnabhumi opens, I can envision them getting together and operating a bus service (or contracting it out) directly between the two airports. That is just my conjecture.

Here's a prediction:

Thai will be allowed to do domestic flights out of the new airport whilst all the low cost carriers will be forced to use Don Muang. Thai will lower their domestic fares until it's no longer viable to hack your way across town to save small baht on a cheapie and so you'll fly with Thai. When all the low costs go to the wall because of lack of traffic Thai will regain their domestic monopoly and jack the prices back up again.

Korea did the same with Gimpo (domestic) and the new airport at Incheon (Intl.). It's a huge pain in the arse and a boon for the taxi industry.

cv

THAI will move ALL its routes, thus incl its domestic ones, to Suv=snake pit, also BKK-air. Thats at least the majority of the inlands. Annd thats certain, BKK-air will even start up its very own ground handling firm.

For the rest NOTHING has been decided yet, so its only speculations.

Korea did the same with Gimpo (domestic) and the new airport at Incheon (Intl.). It's a huge pain in the arse and a boon for the taxi industry: MALAYSUIAQ did the same when they opened their very own white elefant, KLIA, and kept domestic for a while at the old, near city SUBANG. (Incidentally, yesterday I flew KLIA-(Air Asia)-PHuket-(NOK)-BKK. But: this lasted for 1 year or so, and proved so impractical (plus at that time KLIA was so empty something had to be done) that now all use KLIA, incl AirASIA, wghich is the 2nd biggest here.

IN fact transits from long-dist to domestic are quite rare at BKK, except to/fro Samui/Phuket/ChMai. JetStar (which I used a few days before to SIN) has hardly ANY transits in BKK. so there will always be something to fear and complain, but this is LOS: nothing will be decided till a day before: wannee dee kwa proenee, na ha?

Absolutely, let them first find out when to open and than start thnking

who is going to use what.

Here's a prediction:

Thai will be allowed to do domestic flights out of the new airport whilst all the low cost carriers will be forced to use Don Muang. Thai will lower their domestic fares until it's no longer viable to hack your way across town to save small baht on a cheapie and so you'll fly with Thai. When all the low costs go to the wall because of lack of traffic Thai will regain their domestic monopoly and jack the prices back up again.

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I think this scenario is not very likely due to the financial interest Mr. Toxin has in one (Air Asia) of the low cost carriers.

Don Meuang will be the domain of low cost domestic carriers and freight / cargo: Suvarnabhumi will be everything else.

I had heard (read somewhere?) that Don Muang would handle low cost and freight. What bothers me about the new airport is the 'switch over time'. ie. If it is decided that the first plane lands on July 32nd at 09.00 how will the fire engines etc be brought over from the other side of town to arrive ready for the first flight. If they leave early enough to beat the traffic, what happens to the flights that land at DM at 8.55? Scary thought.

I had heard (read somewhere?) that Don Muang would handle low cost and freight. What bothers me about the new airport is the 'switch over time'. ie. If it is decided that the first plane lands on July 32nd at 09.00 how will the fire engines etc be brought over from the other side of town to arrive ready for the first flight. If they leave early enough to beat the traffic, what happens to the flights that land at DM at 8.55? Scary thought.

If the old airport was still handling flights it would still be required to have its fire trucks on hand. The new airport would have its own equipment as this is an international standard that would have to be met before any airline would fly there. That a major international airport would start up without firefighting equipment is not a scary thought, its something that would never happen.

cv

Don Muang is a Royal Thai Air Force base and I have not seen any plans to move out so firefighting equipment would always be there. The question mark is what will the civilian side be used for and that has varied from maintenance center to government center to low cost carrier. Stay tuned.

Currently for some domestic destinations international arriving and connecting in BKK, customers clear immigration and customs in their final destinations within Thailand, rather than at BKK. I know this happens for HKT and CNX (and some others). Will this still be the case with the new airport opens?

Currently for some domestic destinations international arriving and connecting in BKK, customers clear immigration and customs in their final destinations within Thailand, rather than at BKK. I know this happens for HKT and CNX (and some others). Will this still be the case with the new airport opens?

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Don't know but I hope it ends.

Well a light rail system is the current plan to link the two airports, but they haven't constructed the rail system yet. Hopefully when the airport opens in a few years they will have made progress - however think coach, and taxi will be the most likely mode of transport.

I might add that Domestic flights might also go out of the new airport, some debate on how Don Muang might be used, so the above information might prove moot.

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Here we go again remember all the problems years ago to get a taxi from the airport.I guess the old problems will be the same at the new airport.Maybe they will stay smart and have a booth for meter taxis?I doubt it.

I would expect that Thai domestic flights would depart from the new airport, I normally fly Thai from Copenhagen to Phuket with a transit stop at BKK, I surely don't expect to have to change airport to get to Phuket, but then again you never know TIT.

Edited December 19, 200520 yr by sonthaya

I would expect that Thai domestic flights would depart from the new airport, I normally fly Thai from Copenhagen to Phuket with a transit stop at BKK, I surely don't expect to have to change airport to get to Phuket, but then again you never know TIT.

I'm sure the taxi owners and those they pay off are drooling at that prospect.

cv

I would expect that Thai domestic flights would depart from the new airport, I normally fly Thai from Copenhagen to Phuket with a transit stop at BKK, I surely don't expect to have to change airport to get to Phuket, but then again you never know TIT.

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Thai Airways domestic flights will run from Suvarnabhumi, yes, but unfortunately if your connecting flight to Phuket is with Air Asia, Nok Air or some other low cost carrier then you will have to get all the way over to Don Muang to take the flight.

Edited December 20, 200520 yr by dantilley

I would expect that Thai domestic flights would depart from the new airport, I normally fly Thai from Copenhagen to Phuket with a transit stop at BKK, I surely don't expect to have to change airport to get to Phuket, but then again you never know TIT.

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Thai Airways domestic flights will run from Suvarnabhumi, yes, but unfortunately if your connecting flight to Phuket is with Air Asia, Nok Air or some other low cost carrier then you will have to get all the way over to Don Muang to take the flight.

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That is one good reason for flying Thai all the way.