Suvarnabhumi Airport
Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport Template:Airport codes<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is the main international airport serving Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Located mostly in Racha Thewa subdistrict, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province, it covers an area of Template:Convert, making it one of the biggest international airports in Southeast Asia and a regional hub for aviation. The airport is also a major Cargo Air Freight Hub (20th busiest in 2019), which has a designated Airport Free Zone, as well as road links to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) on Motorway 7.<ref>An Update on the Progress of the High-Speed Railway connecting Three Airports</ref>
EtymologyEdit
The name Suvarnabhumi is Sanskrit for "land of gold" (Devanagari:सुवर्णभूमि IAST: Suvarṇabhūmi; Suvarṇa<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is "gold", Bhūmi<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is 'land'; literally "golden land"). The name was chosen by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej whose name includes Bhūmi, referring to the Buddhist golden kingdom, thought to have been to the east of the Ganges, possibly somewhere in Southeast Asia. In Thailand, government proclamations and national museums insist that Suvarnabhumi was somewhere on the coast of the central plains, near the ancient city of U Thong, which might be the origin of the Indianised Dvaravati culture.<ref>Damrong Rachanubhab, "History of Siam in the Period Antecedent to the Founding of Ayuddhya by King Phra Chao U Thong", Miscellaneous Articles: Written for the Journal of the Siam Society by His late Royal Highness Prince Damrong, Bangkok, 1962, pp. 49–88, p. 54; Promsak Jermsawatdi, Thai Art with Indian Influences, New Delhi, Abhinav Publications, 1979, pp. 16–24. William J. Gedney, "A Possible Early Thai Route to the Sea", Journal of the Siam Society, Volume 76, 1988, pp. 12–16. [1]</ref> Although the claims have not been substantiated, the Thai government named the new Bangkok airport Suvarnabhumi Airport, in celebration of this tradition.
HistoryEdit
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The airport is currently the main hub for Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways, as well as the operating base for Thai VietJet Air and Thai AirAsia. It also serves as a regional gateway and connecting point for various foreign carriers connecting to Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa.
Suvarnabhumi was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September 2006.<ref>"Bangkok's new airport opens to first commercial flights", USA Today, 15 September 2006.</ref>
The airport is on what had formerly been known as Nong Nguhao (Template:Literal translation) in Racha Thewa in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan province, as well as the districts of Bang Kapi, Lat Krabang, Bang Na, and Prawet in the eastern side of Bangkok, about Template:Convert from downtown. The terminal building was designed by Helmut Jahn of Murphy/Jahn Architects. It was constructed primarily by ITO JV. The airport had the world's tallest free-standing control tower (Template:Convert) from 2006 to 2014<ref name="ATCT">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and for a time held the title for the world's fourth largest single-building airport terminal (Template:Convert).
Suvarnabhumi is the 17th busiest airport in the world,<ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> eleventh busiest airport in Asia, and the busiest in the country, having handled 60 million passengers in 2017,<ref name="auto"/> and is also a major air cargo hub, with a total of 95 airlines. On social networks, Suvarnabhumi was the world's most popular site for taking Instagram photographs in 2012.<ref>"Suvarnabhumi, Paragon top Instagram places list". Bangkok Post, 29 December 2012.</ref>
Suvarnabhumi was reassigned the IATA airport code, BKK, from Don Mueang after that airport ceased international commercial flights. Motorway 7 connects the airport, Bangkok, and the heavily industrial eastern seaboard of Thailand, where most export manufacturing takes place.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport was temporarily converted to a hospital<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> and vaccination center.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Land purchase, initial early phase of constructionEdit
The need for the new airport was recognized in 1973 when Template:Convert of land was purchased Template:Convert east of Bangkok. The site, known as Cobra Swamp, was drained and named Suvarnabhumi, meaning "realm of gold".Template:Citation needed On 14 October 1973, student-led protests led to the overthrow of the military government of Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn and the project was shelved.Template:Citation needed
"The Japanese government would end up assisting the new airport project as ODA, and in 1996, the project took a step forward with the signing of a loan agreement between the Government of Thailand and the Japanese government. Then, in 1996, Second Bangkok International Airport Company Ltd. (SBIA) was established as the project implementation organization, and the project got underway."<ref name="proj"/>
It was scheduled to finish by 2000.<ref name="proj">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Airport tests and official openingEdit
The airport was due to open in late 2004. Still, a series of budget overruns, construction flaws, and allegations of corruption plagued the project.
A further delay was caused by the discovery that the airport had been built over an old graveyard. Superstitious construction workers claimed to have seen ghosts there. On 23 September 2005, the Thai airport authority held a ceremony where 99 Buddhist monks chanted to appease the spirits.<ref>Richard Lloyd Parry, "Poo Ming – a blue ghost who haunts $4bn airport", The Times, 27 September 2006</ref>
Full tests of the airport took place on 3 and 29 July 2006. Six local airlines — Thai Airways International, Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, PBair, and One-Two-Go Airlines — used the airport as a base for twenty domestic flights.<ref>ThaiDay, "THAI discounts tickets for historic test flights", 1 July 2006.</ref><ref>"PM Thaksin says Suvarnabhumi Airport ready in two months", MCOT, 29 July 2006. Template:Webarchive</ref> The first international test flights were conducted on 1 September 2006. Two Thai Airways aircraft, a Boeing 747-400 and an Airbus A300-600, simultaneously departed the airport at 09:19 to Singapore and Hong Kong respectively. At 15:50 the same aircraft flew back and made simultaneous touchdowns on runways 19L and 19R. These test flights demonstrated the readiness of the airport to handle traffic.Template:Citation needed
On 15 September 2006, the airport started limited daily operations with Jetstar Asia operating three Singapore to Bangkok flights. Bangkok Airways moved to the airport on 21 September. AirAsia and Thai AirAsia followed on 25 September and on 26 September Nok Air moved to Suvarnabhumi Airport. During this initial phase, as well as in the previous tests, the airport used the temporary IATA code NBK.Template:Citation needed
Suvarnabhumi officially opened at 03:00 on 28 September 2006, taking over all flights from Don Mueang. The first flight to arrive was a Lufthansa Cargo flight LH8442 from Mumbai at 03:05.<ref>Pennapa Hongthong, Just listen to our noisy nightmare Template:Webarchive, The Nation, 28 September 2006</ref> The first commercial arrival was Japan Airlines at 03:30. The first passenger arrival was Aerosvit flight VV171 from Kyiv at 04:30, and the first cargo departure was Saudi Arabian Airlines flight SV-984 to Riyadh at 05:00.<ref>Petchanet Pratruangkrai, Suchat Sritama, Exporters pan new export fees Template:Webarchive, The Nation, 27 September 2006</ref> Aerosvit also had the first passenger departure (VV172 to Kyiv) around 05:30.<ref>Kurt Hofmann, LH Cargo set to be first into Suvarnabhumi, ATW, 28 September 2006 Template:Webarchive</ref>
Initial difficultiesEdit
Difficulties were reported in the first few days of the airport's operation. On the first day alone, sluggish luggage handling was common—the first passenger arrival by Aerosvit took an hour for the luggage to start coming out, and some flights did not have their luggage coming out even after four hours. Flights were delayed (Thai Airways claimed that 17 of 19 flights were delayed that day), and there were failures with the check-in system.<ref>Suchat Sritma, Touch down...into chaos Template:Webarchive, 29 September 2006</ref><ref>e-Travel Blackboard, Baggage ruffles up some feathers, but Suvarnabhumi still a success, 29 September 2006 Template:Webarchive</ref> Subsequent problems included the failure of the cargo computer system, and the departure boards displaying the wrong information, resulting in confused passengers (unlike Don Mueang, there were no "final calls" issued).<ref>The Nation, Airport shippers hit by computer failure Template:Webarchive, 2 October 2006</ref>
Months after its opening, issues of congestion, construction quality, signage, provision of facilities, and soil subsidence continued to plague the project, prompting calls to reopen Don Mueang to allow for repairs to be made.<ref>Some flight services will likely return the Don Muang Airport, The Nation, 29 January 2007. </ref> Expert opinions varied widely on the extent of Suvarnabhumi's problems as well as their root cause. Most airlines stated that damage to the airport was minimal.<ref name="The Nation">The Nation, Engineers unable to agree on root cause of airport cracks Template:Webarchive, 10 February 2007</ref><ref>The Nation, THAI baulks at moving to Don Muang, 15 February 2007</ref> Then Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont reopened Don Mueang for domestic flights voluntarily on 16 February 2007, with 71 weekly flights moved back initially, but no international flights.<ref>Thailand backtracks on plan for second international airport, Channel NewsAsia, 16 February 2007 Template:Webarchive</ref>
Capacity and safety issuesEdit
Tarmac problemsEdit
In January 2007, ruts were discovered in the runways at Suvarnabhumi.<ref>A Rough Takeoff for Bangkok's New Airport, Time, 25 January 2007</ref> The east runway was scheduled to close for repairs. Expert opinions varied as to the cause of the ruts.<ref name="The Nation"/> Airport authorities and airline representatives maintained that the airport was still safe and resisted suggestions that the airport should be completely closed and all flights moved back to Don Mueang.<ref>New airport's east runway to close for repairs, return to Don Muang mooted, Thai News Agency, MCOT, 27 January 2007. Template:Webarchive</ref>
On 27 January 2007, the Department of Civil Aviation declined to renew the airport's safety certificate, which had expired the previous day. The ICAO requires that international airports hold aerodrome safety certificates, but Suvarnabhumi continued to operate because the ICAO requirement had yet to be adopted as part of Thai law.<ref>"Bangkok airport officially unsafe", CNN, 27 January 2007 Template:Webarchive</ref>
As of early 2016, tarmac problems persisted at Suvarnabhumi. Soft spots on the tarmac, taxiways, and apron area had not been permanently fixed. Aircraft were getting stuck on the soft surfaces that are the result of sub-standard materials. "The constant resurfacing of the tarmac, taxiways and apron area with asphalt is an unacceptable patchwork solution. We literally need a "concrete" solution", said Tony Tyler, IATA's director general and CEO.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Plans to re-open Don Mueang for domestic flightsEdit
In January 2007, Thai Airways announced a plan to move some of its domestic operations back to Don Mueang International Airport due to overcrowding. Three days later, the Ministry of Transport recommended temporarily reopening Don Mueang while repair work on the runways at Suvarnabhumi proceeded. At that time, Thai Airways said it would shift most of its domestic flights back to Don Mueang while keeping flights with high international passenger connections such as Chiang Mai and Phuket at Suvarnabhumi. On 28 March 2009, Thai Airways discontinued all domestic flights from Don Mueang. Bangkok Airways and One-Two-GO Airlines had similar plans, but Bangkok Airways remained at Suvarnabhumi. Thai AirAsia said it would not move unless it could shift both its international and domestic operations, prompting them to stay at Suvarnabhumi for the time being. Nok Air and PBair were undecided, but Nok Air later relocated all flights to Don Mueang, where they operate today.<ref>Use Don Muang during repairs: 2 airlines Template:Webarchive, The Nation, 27 January 2007.</ref><ref>Move to use 2 airports gets mixed reception Template:Webarchive, The Nation, 31 January 2007.</ref> As of January 2010, only Nok Air and One-Two-GO operated domestic flights from Don Mueang Airport. PBair have ceased operations altogether. One-Two-GO was integrated into Orient Thai Airlines in July 2010, but continued to operate from Don Mueang Airport until liquidation in 2018. As of 1 October 2012, Air Asia has moved all of its Bangkok operations to Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).<ref>AirAsia moves to Don Mueang Airport (1 October 2012), Air Asia, 13 August 2012. Template:Webarchive</ref>
Repair and upgradesEdit
Airports of Thailand found that the cost of fixing 60 identified problems at the airport would be less than one percent of the total airline cost and the problems could be fixed in four to five years. Dr Narupol Chaiyut, a member of a committee overseeing service problems at the new airport, estimated that 70 percent of the problems would be fixed in 2007. Twenty of the 60 problems were successfully fixed by February 2007.<ref>B1bn needed to fix terminal problems over four to five years, Bangkok Post, 16 February 2007Template:Dead link</ref>
Architectural designEdit
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Suvarnabhumi Airport's main terminal roof is designed with structural elements and bays placed in a cantilevered, wavelike form to appear to "float" over the concourse beneath. This overall design principle was to express the former essence of the site, from which water had to be drained before construction could begin. The eight composite 2,710-ton trusses supporting the canopy of the main terminal are essentially diagrams of the bending moments acting on them, with the greatest depth at mid-span and over the supports.<ref>Suvarnabhumi Airport, September 2008. University of Cincinnati. Template:Webarchive</ref>
The result of Helmut Jahn's vision is a structure with performance materials serve in their total composition and in use more than in their conventional roles. This maximizes daylight use in comfort with substantial energy life-cycle cost savings. The installed cooling system reduced up to 50 percent compared to a conventional system. A translucent membrane with three layers was developed to mediate between the interior and exterior climate, dealing with noise and temperature transmission, while still allowing natural flow of daylight into building along with views of greenery outside.<ref>E-Architect, Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, 15 August 2008</ref>
Airport rankingEdit
The airport was ranked number 48 among the world's top 100 airports in 2020. Other ASEAN airports in 2020 were ranked: Changi Airport, 1; Kuala Lumpur International Airport, 63; Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, 35; Hanoi, 87.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Suvarnabhumi was ranked 46 in 2019,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 38 in 2017<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and 36 in 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> According to the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) in 2018, the airport's ranking had not improved over the past six years. Customer complaints included lengthy immigration waiting times, transit day room issues, insufficient numbers of chairs and phone charging points, insufficient English-speaking staff, and poor information displays.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
As of 18 April 2024, the airport was ranked 58th by the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
EventsEdit
- On 25 January 2007, due to work upgrading the taxiways which suffered from small cracks, a few incoming flights were delayed and several flights were safely diverted to U-Tapao International Airport in Rayong Province.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- On 26 November 2008, an illegal occupation of the airport took place by People's Alliance for Democracy, closing the departure lounge and blocking exits and leaving almost 3,000 passengers stranded in the main terminal and another 350,000 stranded inside the country, as all flights were grounded. The People's Alliance for Democracy seized the control tower at 12:00.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 2 December 2008, protesters agreed to leave the airport as they had been illegally protesting and permitted the resumption of flights. Security checks, clean-ups, and re-certification once the illegal occupation ended delayed the airport from being fully functional until 5 December 2008.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- On 5 January 2019, the airport gained international attention when a Saudi Arabian ex-Muslim, Rahaf Mohammed, fleeing an abusive family that punished children who did not follow their religion, was accosted by Thai authorities at the behest of Saudi Arabia and sent to one of the airport's hotels to await repatriation back to her family and country. Fearing that she could be killed for being a disgrace to her family and religion, she barricaded herself in the hotel room, opened a Twitter account to plead for her freedom, and requested assistance from United Nations agents to get her to the Western world, away from her family, as a resettled refugee. As her pleas for help went viral, Thai agents agreed to let her go to Canada to start a new life without Islam.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- In January 2021, a motorist drove his car through security gates and onto the tarmac at the airport while it was in use. It was later revealed that the driver had been under the influence of methamphetamine, which was also discovered in the trunk of the car. The driver claimed that he had taken a wrong turn.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Predatory irregularitiesEdit
Petty thieves and confidence men, the majority of them illegal taxi drivers or tour guides, are known to prey on tourists in the arrival hall. They belong to politically well connected criminal groups: Kamnan Samruay, Boonruang Srisang, Sak Pakphanang, the Pattaya Mafia and Phuyai Daeng.<ref name="bangkokpost20090906">"Crackdown fails to stop airport gangs". Bangkok Post 6 September 2009 Template:Webarchive</ref> Evicting them has proved difficult as they allegedly are well connected. (The head of the Pirap gang is supposedly related to an Airports of Thailand executive, while the Phuyai Daeng has ties to influential civil servants in Samut Prakan.<ref name="bangkokpost20090906"/>)
On 1 October 2010, two hundred armed men occupied the airport's parking area for an hour, blocking the building's entrances and seizing ticket booths to collect fares from motorists.<ref name="bangkokpost20101002">"AoT orders firm to end dispute after car park seizure". Bangkok Post 2 October 2010</ref> Airport security personnel failed to respond, reportedly because of an internal dispute within the parking management company, the firm contracted to run the parking facilities.<ref name="bangkokpost20101002"/>
Airport terminal and future expansionEdit
Airport terminalEdit
Costing an estimated 155 billion baht (US$5 billion), the airport has three parallel runways (60 m wide, 4,000 m and 3,700 m long) and two parallel taxiways to accommodate simultaneous departures and arrivals.<ref>New Bangkok Airport – Now Aiming For July 2006 Opening, 2005. Bangkok Post. Template:Webarchive</ref> It has a total of 120 parking bays (51 with contact gates and 69 remote gates), with five of these capable of accommodating the Airbus A380. Suvarnabhumi Airport has 72 jet bridges and 69 non-jet bridges. Additionally, flights are able to park at remote locations on the ramp, from which airport buses transport passengers to and from the terminal. Suvarnabhumi Airport has 18 jet bridges and 6 non-jet bridges for Airbus A380.Template:Citation needed
The airport's first two runways can accommodate 64 flights per hour. At peak times the runways average 63 flights per hour. In April 2019 the Thai cabinet approved a sum of 21.8 billion baht for the construction of a third runway. Construction was originally planned to start in 2019 and was completed in 2024 due to delays. The third runway (in phased trials) will accommodate a maximum of 30 flights per hour.
The main passenger terminal building, with a capacity of handling 76 flight operations per hour, co-locates the international and domestic terminals, though assigning them to different parts of the concourse. In the initial phase of construction, it was capable of handling 45 million passengers and three million tonnes of cargo per year. Above the underground rail link station and in front of the passenger terminal building is a 600-room hotel operated by Hyatt under the Hyatt Regency brand. The airport's main passenger terminal was, at the time of construction, the world's largest passenger terminal ever constructed in one phase at Template:Convert. The airport air-traffic control tower was the tallest in the world at Template:Convert from 2006 to 2014.<ref name="ATCT"/>
From the opening of Suvarnabhumi in 2006 to early 2017, eight people had fallen to their deaths from upper-floor walkways, prompting the airport to spend 33 million baht in 2013 building glass barriers to prevent people from falling and/or taking their lives.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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Departures hall
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Arrivals hall
- 202402 Concourse A of Suvarnabhumi International Airport.jpg
Concourse A at the northeast handles domestic flights only.
- Suvarnabhumi airport.jpg
Concourse E
- Concourse G, Suvarnabhumi Airport Terminal, Bangkok (7081072409).jpg
Concourse G
Expansion plansEdit
By mid-2015, the airport was handling more than 800 flights per day, higher than its 600-flight capacity. It has exceeded its capacity of 45 million passengers per year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Airports of Thailand (AOT) approved an investment budget for the expansion of Suvarnabhumi Airport and construction was expected to be completed by April 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The plan was to strengthen Suvarnabhumi Airport's position as a regional aviation hub. Phase Two would raise the airport's capacity to 65 million passengers a year and would be undertaken in parallel with the construction of a new domestic terminal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The new domestic terminal will be intended to accommodate more than 30 million passengers annually by 2027.<ref name="expansion">Template:Cite news</ref>
The two expansion projects are part of the overall airport enlargement that would see Suvarnabhumi raise its annual passenger handling capacity to 125 million passengers, 90 million international and 35 million domestic passengers by 2024 at an estimated cost of 163 billion baht (US$5.25 billion/€3.62 billion). The expansion includes the construction of one additional runway of Template:Convert, subsequent enlargement of domestic and international terminals, and improvements to parking bays, car parks, and other airport infrastructure.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In March 2024 Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the third runway would open in October 2024, with a long-term target capacity of 150 million passengers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The runway was opened for full aircraft operations on 1 November 2024, increasing the operational capacity from 68 to 94 flights/hour.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Midfield Satellite Concourse 1 (SAT-1)Edit
Template:See also A new midfield concourse called SAT-1 partially opened in September 2023<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and is expected to fully open from early 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It is linked to the current main terminal via an underground automated people mover (APM) system. The new people mover was provided by Siemens using the NeoVAL technology.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The new satellite terminal has a total of 28 gates, with eight for the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> super jumbo jet.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Spanning around 251,400 square meters, it will increase the airport's annual passenger handling capacity from 45 million to 60 million.<ref name=":0" /> The SAT-1 terminal was nominated as one of six airport terminals for the Prix Versailles World's Most Beautiful Airports Architectural Award for 2024, which was announced at UNESCO.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- (THA-Bangkok) Suvarnabhumi Airport APM 101 @ SAT-1 Building 2024-02-13.jpg
APM vehicle at the SAT-1 terminal stop
- Midfield Satellite SAT-1.jpg
Thai elephant architecture at SAT-1 terminal
- Thai Boeing 777 HS-TJT Bangkok Suvarnabhumi 2024 (01).jpg
Thai Airways Boeing 777-2D7 Pathum Wan in front of SAT-1
Airlines and destinationsEdit
PassengerEdit
Template:Airport destination list
CargoEdit
Template:Airport destination list
Passenger traffic and statisticsEdit
Busiest international routesEdit
Pre-COVID 19Edit
COVID-19 pandemicEdit
| Rank | Airport | Tons of cargo handled 2019 |
% change 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Hong Kong | 172,977 | Template:Decrease 13.50 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Singapore | 99,397 | Template:Decrease 9.29 |
| 3 | Template:Flagicon Taipei–Taoyuan | 92,475 | Template:Decrease 11.61 |
| 4 | Template:Flagicon Tokyo–Narita | 61,431 | Template:Decrease 15.68 |
| 5 | Template:Flagicon Seoul–Incheon | 50,125 | Template:Decrease 6.47 |
| 6 | Template:Flagicon Doha | 46,884 | Template:Increase 7.86 |
| 7 | Template:Flagicon Shanghai–Pudong | 39,479 | Template:Decrease 13.01 |
| 8 | Template:Flagicon Tokyo–Haneda | 39,042 | Template:Decrease 13.80 |
| 9 | Template:Flagicon Dubai–International | 27,479 | Template:Decrease 11.36 |
| 10 | Template:Flagicon London–Heathrow | 25,450 | Template:Decrease 9.44 |
Traffic by calendar yearEdit
Suvarnabhumi accounted for the largest share of air traffic at Thailand's airports in 2023, handling 51.7 million passengers in 2023, up by 80 percent from the previous year despite its passenger capacity of only 45 million a year.
| Year | Passengers | Change from previous year |
Movements | Cargo (tons) |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 41,210,881 | – | – | 1,220,001 | ||
| 2008 | 38,603,490 | Template:DecreaseTemplate:06.3251% | – | 1,173,084 | ||
| 2009 | 40,500,224 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:04.9133% | – | 1,045,194 | ||
| 2010 | 42,784,967 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:05.6413% | – | 1,310,146 | ||
| 2011 | 47,910,744 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:011.9803% | 299,566 | – | ||
| 2012 | 53,002,328 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:010.6272% | 312,493 | – | Airports Council International<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 2013 | 51,363,451 | Template:DecreaseTemplate:03.0921% | 288,004 | 1,236,223 | ||
| 2014 | 46,423,352 | Template:DecreaseTemplate:09.6179% | 289,568 | 1,234,176 | ||
| 2015 | 52,902,110 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:013.9558% | 317,066 | 1,230,563 | <ref>Page6 2015 Air Traffic Report AOT</ref> | |
| 2016 | 55,892,428 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:05.6530% | 336,356 | 1,306,435 | <ref>2016 Air Traffic Report AOT</ref> | |
| 2017 | 60,860,704 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:08.8884% | 350,508 | 1,439,913 | <ref>2017 Air Traffic Report AOT</ref> | |
| 2018 | 63,379,077 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:04.1379% | 369,476 | 1,494,599 | <ref>2018 Air Traffic Report AOT</ref> | |
| 2019 | 65,425,879 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:03.2294% | 380,051 | 1,324,268 | <ref>2019 Air Traffic Report AOT</ref> | |
| 2020 | 16,706,235 | Template:DecreaseTemplate:074.4654% | 152,614 | 904,362 | <ref>2020 Air Traffic Report AOT</ref> | |
| 2021 | 5,663,701 | Template:DecreaseTemplate:066.0983% | 111,729 | 1,120,357 | <ref>2021 Air Traffic Report AOT</ref> | |
| 2022 | 28,754,350 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:0407.6954% | 221,331 | 1,184,157 | <ref>2022 Air Traffic Report AOT</ref> | |
| 2023 | 51,699,104 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:079.7957% | 307,505 | 1,137,373 | <ref name="AOT-2020">Template:Cite book</ref> | |
| 2024 | 62,234,693 | Template:IncreaseTemplate:016.15% | 357,181 | 1,388,272 | <ref name="AOT-2020">Template:Cite book</ref> |
Incidents and accidentsEdit
- 8 September 2013: Thai Airways International Flight 679, an Airbus A330-300, (HS-TEF, Song Dao), arriving from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) had a runway excursion from runway 19L while landing in heavy rain with extensive damage to the airplane and the runway. The aircraft was evacuated using the emergency slides with only minor injuries among the 288 passengers and 14 crew members.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=ASN-2013 /> Preliminary investigation determined the cause of the accident to be the right landing gear collapsing as a result of a damaged bogie.<ref name=ASN-2013>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the aftermath of the accident, Thai Airways had the logos of the aircraft painted over in black, prompting widespread criticism of attempted cover-up. An airline official initially said that the practice was part of the "crisis communication rule" recommended by Star Alliance. This was denied by the group, and Thai Airways later clarified that the "de-identifying" of aircraft was its own practice and not Star Alliance policy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The controversy prompted discussion over the appropriateness and effectiveness of the practice as a brand-protection policy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and written off as a hull loss.Template:Citation needed The airframe has since been converted to a roadside attraction called Airways Land, featuring a cafe and event space, on Mittraphap Road in Sida District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1 August 2016: Thai Regional Airline Flight 106,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> a Piper PA-31 Navajo (HS-FGB) arriving from Nakhon Ratchasima Airport with two passengers, crashed at Lam Phak Chi, Nong Chok district, Bangkok. In the incident, there was one fatality (the captain in command) and four injuries.
- 8 October 2018: Thai Airways International Flight 679, a Boeing 747-400 (HS-TGF, Sri Ubon) arriving from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), China, had a runway excursion from runway 19R while landing, causing damage to the airplane. No injuries were reported.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of January 2020, the aircraft is being repaired at U-Tapao International Airport.Template:Citation needed
- 1 July 2020: A Boeing 767-200 (Z-WPF) flight UM462 with two passengers and 17 crew from Air Zimbabwe made an emergency landing because the left engine had shut down.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- 21 May 2024: Singapore Airlines Flight 321, a Boeing 777-300ER (9V-SWM), was en route from London Heathrow to Singapore Changi where the flight encountered severe turbulence over Myaungmya District, Myanmar, resulting in one death and over 100 injuries.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The aircraft was diverted.
Ground transportationEdit
Airport Rail Link (ARL)Edit
Regional trainEdit
Meanwhile, SRT provides a suburban commuter train service between Lad Krabang (the nearest station to Suvarnabhumi on the East line, one station from the airport by Airport Rail Link) and the northern suburban city of Rangsit via downtown Bangkok and the old Don Mueang Airport. The train also connects with BTS and MRT at Phaya Thai and Phetchaburi stations respectively. A shuttle bus service linking the airport with Hua Takhe railway station is provided by BMTA. The train service is currently not as popular as the bus service because it requires a shuttle bus connection. The service will be stopped when the Airport Express Link is completed.Template:Citation needed
BusEdit
A free bus service connecting Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport operates from 05.00 until midnight. S1 bus route is an air-conditioned bus route operated by Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA). The route traverse between the airport and Sanam Luang, with stops around Democracy Monument and Lan Luang Road. There are also direct buses between the airports operated by an airport shuttle bus.
More buses route can be accessed at Suvarnabhumi Public Transport Center, the airport's main bus terminal.
TaxiEdit
Level 1 (ground level) is where the public taxis are located. A ticket printed from the ticket queue machine (located on the same floor) is required before queuing up for a taxi.
CarEdit
The airport has five main access routes. Among these the most convenient route is via the Bangkok Chon Buri Motorway (Motorway 7). Another main airport entrance is in Samut Prakan Province via the expressway from Bang Na to Bang Pakong.
The airport has seven different car park zones, with zones 2 and 3 having direct access to the departure/arrival terminal. Located northeast of the airport is the Longterm Car Park Zone, next to the Bus Terminal.
The airport has five entrance routes. The main route is via the motorway in the north of Bangkok, directly connecting Bangkok's downtown and Chonburi Province, the industrial and harbor city in eastern Thailand. However, another main airport entrance is in Samut Prakan Province, connecting an elevated highway in the south of Bangkok from Bang Na to Bang Pakong.
Sky Lane Cycle TrackEdit
In December 2015, Airports of Thailand introduced the Sky Lane (Template:Langx), a cycling track around the Suvarnabhumi airport perimeter. The entrance to the Sky Lane is located in the northeastern corner of the airport area. Cyclists can bring their bicycles and bike here for free. The Sky Lane is a controlled-access, one-direction, two-lane track built only for cycling, so the riders can be ensured that they will not be bothered by any vehicle. The Sky Lane's length is 23.5 km, making it the longest in Asia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sky Lane's facilities, which are specially designed for cyclists, include medical facilities, shops, food & beverage, track, parking lot and a rest area. The entrance gate is open from 06:00 to 18:00.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 23 November 2018, King Rama X presided over the official opening of cycling lane at Suvarnabhumi airport and denominated the track as Happy and Healthy Bike Lane (Template:Langx).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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- Suvarnabhumi Airport, official site
- Free Zone by Suvarnabhumi Airport website
- Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited and the Page of the Suvarnabhumi Airport
- Suvarnabhumi Airport project information from Airport Technology
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