Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport is set to enhance its operational capabilities with the upcoming inauguration of a new runway on November 1, 2024. This new addition aims to significantly improve the airport’s flight capacity, facilitating a more efficient travel experience for passengers.
Kirati Kijmanawat, Director of Airports of Thailand (AOT), announced the completion of the third runway, emphasizing the successful tests that have been conducted for both landings and take-offs. He confirmed that both the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand have approved the runway for operational use.
The new runway, which is located to the west of the existing airport facilities, measures 60 meters in width and extends 4,000 meters in length, running parallel to the first runway. Once the final field lighting is installed and systems are calibrated, the airport anticipates an increase in its capacity to accommodate up to 94 flights per hour, a substantial rise from the current limit of 68 flights.
However, the airport has outlined a phased approach to reach this full capacity. Initially, it plans to ramp up operations to 75 flights per hour in 2025, followed by an increase to 85 flights by 2026, ultimately aiming for the 94 flights per hour target by 2027. This gradual escalation is expected to contribute significantly to the airport’s revenue, with projections estimating earnings to soar to 9.09 billion baht by 2027.
In addition to the new runway, Suvarnabhumi International Airport is eyeing even larger expansions in the future. The AOT is preparing plans for a fourth runway on the eastern side of the airport, with construction slated to commence in 2027. Furthermore, bids for a new South Terminal, designed to handle an impressive 70 million passengers annually, are expected to be launched concurrently with the runway project, as reported by The Nation.
