From 45 to 80 million capacity: The new master plan for Thailand's Suvarnabhumi International Airport
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18 - 19 February 2025 | Suntec, Singapore | #aviationfestasia | For Asia's aviation industry.
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The Airports of Thailand Company Limited (AoT) has approved a new master plan for Suvarnabhumi International Airport as it attempts to scale up annual capacity to 80 million by 2031, a huge increase from its 2023 capacity of 45 million.
The AoT President Kirati Kitmanawat positioned the long term master plan (2025-2035) as part of the government's push for the airport to be ranked amongst the top 20 worldwide in the next five years. Hoping to transform the airport into a global aviation hub, the plan includes over 159 billion baht of investment.
With an increase in passengers overwhelming the main terminal, Suvarnabhumi International Airport is adding capacity through a runway development as well as South and West expansion projects.
Speaking on timeline for the plan, Kitmanawat said the new passenger terminal (South Terminal) design phase would take around 14 months and the fourth runway will take approximately 10 months. Bidding for construction on the projects is expected to come by early 2027. Once construction has begun, Kitmanawat estimated South Terminal would take four and a half years to build and the runway should be completed within four years.
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Noted one urgent reason for the development plan, Kitmanawat said:
"The Suvarnabhumi International Airport currently has a problem with the main terminal building because there is not enough space for parking and picking up and dropping off passengers in front of the building."
With Thailand welcoming as estimated 36 million foreign tourists this year, the ambitious expansion project for the airport will help support the influx of travellers, ultimately positioning it as a leading hub.
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