Airport Will Almost Double Capacity

[Tywais]

Airport Will Almost Double Capacity

CityNews – 17th March 2016, Group Captain Visutr Chantana, Executive Vice President, General Manager of Chiang Mai International Airport announced plans to build a new four storey passenger terminal to support up to 17 million passengers per year.

Plans include building a new passenger terminal as well as more bay for planes. The old terminal to the south will be used as a domestic terminal, though we are yet to be given details of where each terminal will be exactly. Currently the airport can support up to 8.3 million passengers per year, so this new terminal will nearly double the airport’s capacity.

There are also plans afoot to operate the airport 24 hours a day though Group Captain Visutr says that he will organise a public hearing before making such decisions.

Chiang Mai CityNews

-- Chiang City News March 17, 2016

[anon467848]

Surely it would make more sense building a new airport outside the city centre... whatever happened to plans to build a new airport in the Mae On area?

[djjamie]

With tourist arrivals reaching record numbers every year this was inevitable.

This is certainly a positive sign for Chiang Mai's tourist sector.

[Tywais]

With tourist arrivals reaching record numbers every year this was inevitable.

This is certainly a positive sign for Chiang Mai's tourist sector.

There are at least two topics running in the Chiang Mai forum complaining about noise from landing and departing aircraft. Suspect the number of topics on this will increase.

[daoyai]

Surely it would make more sense building a new airport outside the city centre... whatever happened to plans to build a new airport in the Mae On area?

That area is redsville.

[NancyL]

Personally, I'm glad to see this development vs. building a new airport in an amphur (Mae On) that borders on Lamphun and Lampang provinces. Much more convenient to have the airport so close to the central city.

[Thailand]

Difficult to access and nowhere to park even now. Needs to be out of town for any expansion especially if they are looking at 24 hours.

[whiterussian]

Shame if they wreck Mae On though... my favourite area for a day trip from Hang Dong... and too mountainy for planes

[Sparkles]

It makes absolutely no sense, in the long term, to upgrade the airport at its present site.

Rather than planning 3 years ahead why not have some vision for 10 or 20 years time when access to the current airport and parking will be impossible,its a shambles now.Chinese New Year illustrated that quite clearly if you happened to get caught up in it.

The possible sites mentioned before were Sankamphaeng or San Patong and serviced into the city by a mono rail or similar.That of course would be decided by the "decision makers" that own nearby land which would increase 10 fold in value.

Chiang Mai is slowly creeping up to total grid lock in peak times or has nobody noticed ?

[anon467848]

It makes absolutely no sense, in the long term, to upgrade the airport at its present site.

Rather than planning 3 years ahead why not have some vision for 10 or 20 years time when access to the current airport and parking will be impossible,its a shambles now.Chinese New Year illustrated that quite clearly if you happened to get caught up in it.

The possible sites mentioned before were Sankamphaeng or San Patong and serviced into the city by a mono rail or similar.That of course would be decided by the "decision makers" that own nearby land which would increase 10 fold in value.

Chiang Mai is slowly creeping up to total grid lock in peak times or has nobody noticed ?

"Chiang Mai is slowly creeping up to total grid lock in peak times or has nobody noticed ?"

​Unfortunately, the decision makers travel around in chauffeured cars and police escorts. They don't have too worry about traffic congestion and parking.. Totally out of touch with the people that they are supposed to be representing..

[Srikcir]

CNX has one runway that can accommodate 24 take-off and landings per hour providing a capacity to handle eight million passengers a year.

If additional infrastructure such as new terminals, taxiways and aprons doesn't include a second runway, this airport will become dangerous at 17 million passengers a year.

[ianf]

Difficult to access and nowhere to park even now. Needs to be out of town for any expansion especially if they are looking at 24 hours.

Actually parling is nigh on impossible. If they build a new terminal I guess they'll have the sense to treble the parking area . Hopefully they will also put an end to the scamming of foreigners by the car park attendants.

[bangon04]

Wasn't the major expansion of CNX airport a firm plan proposed by a certain ex-Prime Minister at least 10 years ago?

[cmth]

CNX has one runway that can accommodate 24 take-off and landings per hour providing a capacity to handle eight million passengers a year.

If additional infrastructure such as new terminals, taxiways and aprons doesn't include a second runway, this airport will become dangerous at 17 million passengers a year.

Agree. 1 runway is insufficient to handle the increase in traffic. Also, because of the mountains, approach and departure paths are limited as well. I don't believe there is enough usable, safe airspace to increase traffic to that amount even with 2 runways.

[Dtaw]

Prepare for more lovely Chinese tourists.

[hugocnx]

Then it will be time to leave this 'beautiful' city with it's air polution, 24/7 airport noise, nowhere to park, loads of Chinese, traffic jams, over building and as a result of all that more scams of any kind.

[jaiyen]

Will have to move further up to Chiang Rai ! Or maybe west up the mountain road,

[bazza40]

Difficult to access and nowhere to park even now. Needs to be out of town for any expansion especially if they are looking at 24 hours.

Actually parling is nigh on impossible. If they build a new terminal I guess they'll have the sense to treble the parking area . Hopefully they will also put an end to the scamming of foreigners by the car park attendants.

A taxi costs 150 - 200 baht. I don't bother attempting to park there.

[hugocnx]

Yes, there was a time that Chiang Rai was an alternative. These days polution in all over Northern Thailand.

[hugocnx]

Difficult to access and nowhere to park even now. Needs to be out of town for any expansion especially if they are looking at 24 hours.

Actually parling is nigh on impossible. If they build a new terminal I guess they'll have the sense to treble the parking area . Hopefully they will also put an end to the scamming of foreigners by the car park attendants.

A taxi costs 150 - 200 baht. I don't bother attempting to park there.

Agreed if you live somewhere around the city. Different when you live further away I guess. If price is no matter, then getting a taxi out there in the fields is the next problem.

[CNXBKKMAN]

Will have to move further up to Chiang Rai ! Or maybe west up the mountain road,

Chiang Rai must have doubled its passengers numbers over the last couple of years. Direct flights to China and Singapore, charter flights from Korea. Plus a massive increase in flights to BKK.

[CNXBKKMAN]

CNX has one runway that can accommodate 24 take-off and landings per hour providing a capacity to handle eight million passengers a year.

If additional infrastructure such as new terminals, taxiways and aprons doesn't include a second runway, this airport will become dangerous at 17 million passengers a year.

Agree. 1 runway is insufficient to handle the increase in traffic. Also, because of the mountains, approach and departure paths are limited as well. I don't believe there is enough usable, safe airspace to increase traffic to that amount even with 2 runways.

London Gatwick 38 million passengers on a single runway. Manchester was on about 20 million before it had a second runway. San Diego has a single runway plus crowded airspace with the navy base next door. San Diego airport is only about 2 miles from the city centre. There is a lot of scope for sleepy CNX to increase its passenger numbers with the current single runway. As it gets busier the airlines will operate bigger aircraft. At the moment all the Chinese flights are are on small aircraft A320 and B737's . The next step will be for these to go wide body with A330, B777's etc.

There is no problem with crowded airspace either. Chiang Mai is a small airport and 8 million passengers today which must be double what is was 5 years ago. The Terminal and apron space will get bigger just like it doubled in size during the past 10 years. The car parking will go multi story.

The day is coming where the CM authorities will have to accept that public transport is needed just like in every city in the world. Bus services, bus stops, routes crossing all over the city. A mono rail running from the airport into and out of the city would make sense and wouldn't be many km's long. If the airport can be kept close to the city it will be a great asset for Chiang Mai.

[connda]

Surely it would make more sense building a new airport outside the city centre... whatever happened to plans to build a new airport in the Mae On area?

Have you any idea what costs are involved? Small general aviation? Maybe. Commercial? Won't happen.

[connda]

With tourist arrivals reaching record numbers every year this was inevitable.

This is certainly a positive sign for Chiang Mai's tourist sector.

There are at least two topics running in the Chiang Mai forum complaining about noise from landing and departing aircraft. Suspect the number of topics on this will increase.

I can't imagine how many airports that I've seen built out in the rural boonies adjacent to cities that, over a few decades, build housing developments around said airport, and then those who buy on the flight path complain. <head shake>

Edited March 19, 2016 by connda

[connda]

Wasn't the major expansion of CNX airport a firm plan proposed by a certain ex-Prime Minister at least 10 years ago?

The ex-PM who now lives in Dubai?

[Chicog]

There is a huge swathe of space to the east of the airport that could easily accommodate a four storey terminal and ample parking.

It would also feed directly into the 121.

The issue of Chiang Mai gridlock is irrelevant.

What that needs is an effective public transit system to take motor vehicles off the road, and it needs that regardless of whether or not they expand the airport.

I don't know about you, but if I go to London these days and I'm heading to the city, I just jump on the Heathrow Express.

[cmth]

CNX has one runway that can accommodate 24 take-off and landings per hour providing a capacity to handle eight million passengers a year.

If additional infrastructure such as new terminals, taxiways and aprons doesn't include a second runway, this airport will become dangerous at 17 million passengers a year.

Agree. 1 runway is insufficient to handle the increase in traffic. Also, because of the mountains, approach and departure paths are limited as well. I don't believe there is enough usable, safe airspace to increase traffic to that amount even with 2 runways.

London Gatwick 38 million passengers on a single runway. Manchester was on about 20 million before it had a second runway. San Diego has a single runway plus crowded airspace with the navy base next door. San Diego airport is only about 2 miles from the city centre. There is a lot of scope for sleepy CNX to increase its passenger numbers with the current single runway. As it gets busier the airlines will operate bigger aircraft. At the moment all the Chinese flights are are on small aircraft A320 and B737's . The next step will be for these to go wide body with A330, B777's etc.

There is no problem with crowded airspace either. Chiang Mai is a small airport and 8 million passengers today which must be double what is was 5 years ago. The Terminal and apron space will get bigger just like it doubled in size during the past 10 years. The car parking will go multi story.

The day is coming where the CM authorities will have to accept that public transport is needed just like in every city in the world. Bus services, bus stops, routes crossing all over the city. A mono rail running from the airport into and out of the city would make sense and wouldn't be many km's long. If the airport can be kept close to the city it will be a great asset for Chiang Mai.

All of the airports you are mentioning have multiple (practically unlimited in an emergency) approaches and can safely route traffic at different distances and altitudes. Other airports capable of supporting the aircraft are within a reasonable distance. A safe approach to CNX by anything but the smallest jets needs to happen on runway 36. An approach on runway 18 is not as safe. The glide path is steep coming from that direction. If there is an emergency with an aircraft, what do you do with the other traffic? According to your altitude you can't turn West and have a limited capability to turn East. There is nowhere to go. I don't care how big they make the runways, aprons, etc. The air space here will be the limit not the ground. Unless you throw safety out the window that is.

[thenewgoo]

I am happy the plan is to keep the old airport -rather convenient for me. But are they also providing more car park space to support these new capacities? It is already very difficult find a spot at certain times - the double park/hand-brake-off approach is very unnerving! .

[Tywais]

I am happy the plan is to keep the old airport -rather convenient for me. But are they also providing more car park space to support these new capacities? It is already very difficult find a spot at certain times - the double park/hand-brake-off approach is very unnerving! .

Seems a good option is to stack the existing parking area, that is build a multi story parking facility, either above ground or combined with below ground. Even just one more floor will nearly double the parking capacity. Of course that will cause chaos while it is being built. 2nd option, another parking area somewhere else with shuttles to the airport.

[CNXBKKMAN]

CNX has one runway that can accommodate 24 take-off and landings per hour providing a capacity to handle eight million passengers a year.

If additional infrastructure such as new terminals, taxiways and aprons doesn't include a second runway, this airport will become dangerous at 17 million passengers a year.

Agree. 1 runway is insufficient to handle the increase in traffic. Also, because of the mountains, approach and departure paths are limited as well. I don't believe there is enough usable, safe airspace to increase traffic to that amount even with 2 runways.

London Gatwick 38 million passengers on a single runway. Manchester was on about 20 million before it had a second runway. San Diego has a single runway plus crowded airspace with the navy base next door. San Diego airport is only about 2 miles from the city centre. There is a lot of scope for sleepy CNX to increase its passenger numbers with the current single runway. As it gets busier the airlines will operate bigger aircraft. At the moment all the Chinese flights are are on small aircraft A320 and B737's . The next step will be for these to go wide body with A330, B777's etc.

There is no problem with crowded airspace either. Chiang Mai is a small airport and 8 million passengers today which must be double what is was 5 years ago. The Terminal and apron space will get bigger just like it doubled in size during the past 10 years. The car parking will go multi story.

The day is coming where the CM authorities will have to accept that public transport is needed just like in every city in the world. Bus services, bus stops, routes crossing all over the city. A mono rail running from the airport into and out of the city would make sense and wouldn't be many km's long. If the airport can be kept close to the city it will be a great asset for Chiang Mai.

All of the airports you are mentioning have multiple (practically unlimited in an emergency) approaches and can safely route traffic at different distances and altitudes. Other airports capable of supporting the aircraft are within a reasonable distance. A safe approach to CNX by anything but the smallest jets needs to happen on runway 36. An approach on runway 18 is not as safe. The glide path is steep coming from that direction. If there is an emergency with an aircraft, what do you do with the other traffic? According to your altitude you can't turn West and have a limited capability to turn East. There is nowhere to go. I don't care how big they make the runways, aprons, etc. The air space here will be the limit not the ground. Unless you throw safety out the window that is.

I would disagree with the safety aspect. What happens at Heathrow or LAX when there is an emergency. The skies are jammed full of aircraft. LAX has Longbeach, Santa Monica, Burbank, Van Nuys, Hawthorn all very close together, helicopters buzzing about all over. The aircraft with the emergency has to follow the controllers instructions. There is almost nothing in the skies above CM. Only the mountain is a no go area and easily avoided. I have seen no difference with approach on runway 18, Thai 777's land on that runway just as easily as the as they do landing from the south. I have not noticed any steep approach either.