Bangkok's New Airport Aims For Top Spot In Region

[Jai Dee]

Asia: Bangkok's massive new airport aims for top spot in region

BANGKOK--Its name translates into "golden land."

The country's political and aviation leaders hope Suvarnabhumi Airport, with a name chosen by Thailand's beloved King Bhumibol, will bring prosperity and the world to its doorstep.

Bangkok's new international airport is nearing the final stages of construction. Set to open in summer, hopes are high that the airport will heighten Thailand's international presence.

It is also likely to spur fierce competition for passengers among Asia's busy air hubs.

The last of several major Asian airport developments begun in the past decade, Suvarnabhumi covers 3,200 hectares, more than three times the land area of Japan's Narita International Airport.

Asia has seen a string of airport expansion projects, starting with Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture in 1994.

Next up were Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport in 1998, Shanghai's Pudong International Airport in 1999, Seoul's Incheon International Airport in 2001 and Chubu Centrair International Airport in Aichi Prefecture in February 2005.

The new Thai airport is about 25 kilometers east of downtown Bangkok. Construction of two runways and terminal buildings is nearly completed, while cargo facilities are still being built.

Dubbed the "Pride of Thailand" on publicity banners, the airport boasts features that could indeed make it No. 1 worldwide.

Its control tower will rise 132 meters, the highest in the world. The airport will also have a passenger terminal floor space of 560,000 square meters in total, the world's largest.

"There are some items that have been purposely made the No. 1 in the world although it wasn't necessary from a functional viewpoint," said a source involved with its construction.

Two runways--one is 4,000 meters and the other 3,700 meters--are already in place, while the foundation for a third is being prepared.

When it opens, the airport will have a capacity for 45 million passengers annually, which is 1.5 times more than Narita and 2.6 times more than Chubu. It is expected to reach that peak load by 2008.

Eventually, the airport will likely handle about 100 million passengers, for which it will need a fourth runway.

Fueling such confident projections is Thailand's strong economic growth. Since 2002, the country's GDP has climbed at 4-7 percent annually, the second-fastest growth rate in Asia after China's.

Both passenger and cargo volumes at Bangkok's existing Don Muang Airport are on the rise. In 2004, 37.96 million passengers moved through Don Muang, 25 percent more than in the previous year.

That placed the airport in the top spot among Asia's international hubs.

Demand for aviation centers is growing throughout the region. Of the world's top 50 airports in 2004, 10 air centers saw more than 20 percent year-on-year growth in passenger numbers. Of those, nine are in Asia.

Tokyo's Haneda, a domestic flight hub, handles the most passengers, with 62.29 million passing through in 2004.

Don Muang, at 37.96 million passengers, comes in a distant second, followed by Hong Kong with 36.71 million, Beijing with 34.88 million and Narita with 31.05 million.

Things could change. While Haneda saw a slight year-on-year drop of 0.9 percent in passenger volume from 2003, the other four had double-digit growth.

In addition to Don Muang's 25.8-percent passenger growth, other busy airports were Hong Kong with 35.5 percent, Beijing with 43.2 percent and Narita with 17.0 percent.

The Thai government eventually intends to use Don Muang primarily as an air force base, shifting the bulk of civil aviation functions to Suvarnabhumi.

"Bangkok has the advantage of being at the center of an aviation network linking Europe with Asia and Oceania," the Thai aviation authority said.

The new airport will extend the city's lead over its Asian rivals and consolidate its position as the region's central hub.

(IHT/Asahi: January 11,2006)

[astral]

If it ever opens...........

[Rinrada]

Officially it is open...last year by great Leader but until they fill up the cracks in the runways it will not be certified unlike great.L..........

Its only a matter of time and I will be looking forward to seeing Singapore Airways making their first flights into Bangers (trying for a tic) using their new A380 (EU built) super duper jumbo jets....

yeah.. a new era just round the corner....changed days from the old Daks.........

[Sir Burr]

Surprised to not see Singapore's Changi Airport on the list. Still the best airport in the world from a passenger's perspective.

[sonthaya]

Get it opened before you make any further planning, that's if it ever will open.

[Plus]

Pity most Thais will never be able to afford flying, esp. if Airasia and the others will stay at Don Muang.

[mickmac]

I feel that any airport should also be judged on the ease with which the customer can get to and from it.

It would be interesting to see the travel times to and from the airport from Bangkok city centre at various hours of the day and night. I'm sure people will love having to leave their hotels some 6 hours before their flight departures to arrive there in time for international flights.

Edited January 11, 2006 by mickmac

[marquess]

The name itself is off putting, to long and difficult to pronounce! I reckon that it will be about five years before, they get the rail link up and running properly. I can only hope that some airlines will still be using Don Muang. Hey does anyone know what Kualupur airport is like in comparision to Don Muang?

[naka]

The name itself is off putting, to long and difficult to pronounce! I reckon that it will be about five years before, they get the rail link up and running properly. I can only hope that some airlines will still be using Don Muang. Hey does anyone know what Kualupur airport is like in comparision to Don Muang?

K.L. airport is very nice if somewhat underutilized. You can catch a high speed train right from the terminal to the city center mass transit station ! Bangkok will be a nightmare to get to or from

and the mafia taxi system will rule forever. Sooo shortsighted or perhaps just another case

of "vested interests"

Just because the new airport covers a large area does not make it good. Quality does not equal quality. For an airport that travellers like to use there is nothing to compare with Singapore.

Naka.

[ovenman]

K.L. airport is very nice if somewhat underutilized. You can catch a high speed train right from the terminal to the city center mass transit station !

KLIA is a very nice airport but it had the same transportation problem when it was opened (no rail link to the city). The hi-speed train wasn't in place for a couple years.

[naka]

K.L. airport is very nice if somewhat underutilized. You can catch a high speed train right from the terminal to the city center mass transit station !

KLIA is a very nice airport but it had the same transportation problem when it was opened (no rail link to the city). The hi-speed train wasn't in place for a couple years.

It's there now but !

[Rinrada]

K.L. airport is very nice if somewhat underutilized. You can catch a high speed train right from the terminal to the city center mass transit station !

KLIA is a very nice airport but it had the same transportation problem when it was opened (no rail link to the city). The hi-speed train wasn't in place for a couple years.

It took about 20 years before London Underground got the go ahead to link its system up with Heathrow Airport and even then it was probably the most frequented in the world (interna)

A couple of years ago they finally got (the airport) the green light to do a Hi speed link to Paddington (ye gods?/)but hopefully soon will hook up and interconnect with the channel tunnel link into Kings Cross..(nig noi peng @ £ 15 a jump.)so on that basis all of the new emerging countries are doing quite well.

Still recon its quite amusing to think that the Chinese have completed a 500kl/hr Maglev train for their Olympics while we (in the smoke) are looking at reserving/giving priority to a dedicated bus lane to get 50 million punters to the venues down in the darkest recesses in the east end of the city.

Me and many others (x-sparks) old mentor Prof.Eric Laithwaite will be rolling about laughing....(maglev) ...Barnes Wallis...come back we need you again.......