Don Mueang makeover set to handle 28-30 million passengers annually

[webfact]

Don Mueang makeover set to handle 28-30 million pax annually
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 6 -- Don Mueang Airport in northern Bangkok is being renovated to cater at least 16 million passengers this year and up to 28-30 million once completed in May 2014.

Don Mueang airport director Jaturongkapol Sodmanee said on Tuesday that the renovation of the airport's two terminals and runways to expand its handling capacity for 28-30 million people annually is expected to be complete by May next year.

The airport is set to offer faster service for passengers starting this peak season by increasing X-ray scanners and security checkpoints. The renovated terminals will serve the region's growing air travel as many airlines including Lion Air, the Jakarta-based low-cost carrier, will make Bangkok as one of its hubs and is supposed to launch its service here later this month.

Thai AirAsia’s commercial division director Santisuk Klongchaiya, meanwhile, said the airline is opening up new routes together with new promotions to meet expected demand during this peak travel season. The growing political tensions should not affect the Thai tourism.

According to Santisuk, Thai AirAsia has also introduced its “Fly-Thru” campaign which will help passengers connect with flights more conveniently. Passengers at Don Mueang Airport can transfer from one flight to another without hassle as their baggages will be collected at the destination. The campaign will be active from December 1 onward, covering 34 routes. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-11-06

[bangon04]

So that sounds definite.....and almost complete already. 55555. Does that total include the times it is under water? Do they still need to refurbish and expand SVBumi? or was that just last week's plan?

[Ricardo]

Good news about Air Asia's "Fly-Thru" scheme, which currently operates at KUL, being extended to BKK !

Now, if only the airports-authority can actually get on with the long-promised/delayed expansion of Swampy, as well as just putting-back-into-use the old facilities at DMK ...

[hansnl]

If Don Mueang would be up to steam, maybe a good rail connection between the two airports could be pushed through?

If Don Mueang would serve 16-28 million passengers a year, why then the upgrading of Suvarnibhumi.

Not really a people friendly airport now, making it even bigger?

Edited November 6, 2013 by hansnl

[ginjag]

If Don Mueang would be up to steam, maybe a good rail connection between the two airports could be pushed through?

If Don Mueang would serve 16-28 million passengers a year, why then the upgrading of Suvarnibhumi.

Not really a people friendly airport now, making it even bigger?

Agree, Don Mueang, the biggest and best thing to do is to get on your bikes-PRIORITY and have this direct rail link between the both airports. The second best thing would be to ASK the Air Force to move to say KHORAT and base it's self there. Your airport is then fit to overtake Swampy. Please Air Asia get your London Gatwick flights up and running asap. I am then Udon to London---bye bye Swampy.

[sunflowerhx]

This is clearly a smokescreen, the Suvarnabhumi expansions to 60 - 120M passengers will happen eventually.

This Don Mueang makeover is simply a contingency to the inevitable delays and AOT cockups to the Suvarnabhumi expansion.

No doubt Don Mueang will remain a hub for domestic & private airlines.

Once Suvarnabhumi increases its capacity, it would not make sense for AirAsia to stay.

There is no way that Don Mueang can be profitable in the long run.

As for the Airport link, that will never happen. It makes no commercial sense.

[h90]

This is clearly a smokescreen, the Suvarnabhumi expansions to 60 - 120M passengers will happen eventually.

This Don Mueang makeover is simply a contingency to the inevitable delays and AOT cockups to the Suvarnabhumi expansion.

No doubt Don Mueang will remain a hub for domestic & private airlines.

Once Suvarnabhumi increases its capacity, it would not make sense for AirAsia to stay.

There is no way that Don Mueang can be profitable in the long run.

As for the Airport link, that will never happen. It makes no commercial sense.

It makes sense for AirAsia, because Don Mueang charge the airlines much less. There was also a discussion if AirAsia get a 90% discount. (They are or were close to the Shinawatra clan) I don't know if that happened or not.

[rubl]

Do I remember correctly that the government has asked a few budget airlines a few times to move this or that way?

So what will happen now? Offices at both airports may be a bit costly for budget airlines

[Lakegeneve]

If Don Mueang would be up to steam, maybe a good rail connection between the two airports could be pushed through?

If Don Mueang would serve 16-28 million passengers a year, why then the upgrading of Suvarnibhumi.

Not really a people friendly airport now, making it even bigger?

Everytime there is a DMK expansion article someone asks the good query about a rail link between both airports.

The ARL was always planned to be extended to DMK via the new Bang Sue Intercity Terminal which is being built (and will be the HSR terminus). The policy changed on DMK early last year to a 2 airport policy meant that the extension timeframe was advanced. Thus it is expected that the tender will go out later this year or early next. Expect a 4 yr construction timeframe once work starts though some Ministers have made ludicrous claims that it could open by 2016.

Swamp Phase 2 is underway and Phase 3 planning is advanced. The reality of why DMK is needed is that overcrowding at BKK due to a delayed expansion implementation plus the growth in pax numbers means that 2 airports are desirable. BKK is plenty big enough to have 2 airport operations. In 5- 20 years people will look back and see that is was a good idea to reopen DMK as a full capacity airport.

[sunflowerhx]

At the end of the day, it is all about economics.

If the numbers are accurate, in 20 yrs Bangkok will have a capacity of Suvarnabhumi 120M + DMK 30M = 150M.

Surely with rising energy costs, the current rate of tourism growth cannot be sustained?

So in 20 yrs time, there will be over capacity.

As for the railway link, if there cannot make the current Airport Link profitable, how can they find funding for a expansion?

[ginjag]

At the end of the day, it is all about economics.

If the numbers are accurate, in 20 yrs Bangkok will have a capacity of Suvarnabhumi 120M + DMK 30M = 150M.

Surely with rising energy costs, the current rate of tourism growth cannot be sustained?

So in 20 yrs time, there will be over capacity.

As for the railway link, if there cannot make the current Airport Link profitable, how can they find funding for a expansion?

Fraction of the rice and rubber, and would benefit not just passengers, also staff + any problems that may arise, quick link without other forms of transport, no congestion for future. (roads)

[Lakegeneve]

At the end of the day, it is all about economics.

If the numbers are accurate, in 20 yrs Bangkok will have a capacity of Suvarnabhumi 120M + DMK 30M = 150M.

Surely with rising energy costs, the current rate of tourism growth cannot be sustained?

So in 20 yrs time, there will be over capacity.

As for the railway link, if there cannot make the current Airport Link profitable, how can they find funding for a expansion?

On the last issue first. The BTS wasn't profitable for the first 8 years and the MRT has only started making a profits for the BMCL in the last 3 years so I guess based on your underlying inference both networks would not have been expanded at all? But it sort of missed the reality that funding for building all metro lines comes from govt revenues - central govt or the BMA in the case of 3 BTS extensions

One wouldn't expect the ARL to make a profit for a while given it is servicing a large debt. Also, if one can't see the value of extending the airport line to DMK beyond just an immediate narrow operating profit analysis in a polluted, transport inefficient and vehicle jammed city, then one should perhaps think more broadly about the obvious other benefits of mass transit.

On the airport pax capacity front, your numbers look good.

Current BKK capacity is 45m with current pax at 53m. Phase 2 is meant to be completed by 2017/8 - though a later date should be expected - taking capacity to 60m. (a render of the Phase 2 terminal is posted below for those that are unsure). Basically, due to the last 3 govts & the AOT not planning explansion well Phase 2 will open and the airport will still be at or over capacity.

Phase 3, which involves a 3rd extra runway, a potential domestic terminal and extra space and Phase 4 which involves the Southern Int Terminal (essentially a duplicate of the current one to the south) & 4th & 5th runways should really be getting started with some preliminary works now. Apparently the 3rd runway is a current priority. However, I'd say it is doubtful that Phase 4 would be done by 2025 at the earliest but I suspect it will be much later than that. If once Phase 4 is completed and thus capacity is finally more than annual pax numbers, that will be a big positive.

In that context, DMK is clearly needed in the interim and as a longer term 2nd airport, even once Phase 2 is complete the BKK airport will be at capacity. Cost wise it is obviously much cheaper to create extra capacity at DMK in the short term than it is to build that capacity at BKK for the longer term. It helps to alleviate the short and medium term capacity issues.

Pax growth wise I'd suggest that most of it will be due to Thai and domestic travel growth but inbound tourists will still keep growing for the better or worse given Thailands addiction to mass tourism. Wait until the Chinese really start coming here......!