Minister of Transport Suriya Jungroongreangkit announced a strike in the operational strength of Suvarnabhumi Airport with imminent completion the third runway in July.
Suriya foresees a leap forward, increasing the airport’s flight handling capacity from 67 flights per hour to a whopping 94, a key step in strengthening Thailand’s position as a key aviation hub in the region.
The upcoming third runway, located east of the existing ones, will have its own passenger terminal and a range of airport facilities. Complementing this expansion, the recent inauguration of the Satellite Passenger Terminal 1 (SAT-1) marked a milestone in the airport’s evolution, with 13 airlines already using this state-of-the-art facility.
The introduction of SAT-1 caused a seismic jump in flight operations at Suvarnabhumi, with the terminal’s daily number of flights jumping to 86. Officials predict that number will rise even further, reaching a staggering 112 flights per day by the end of the month, underscoring the new terminal’s seamless assimilation into holistic airport operations, Pattaya Mail reported.
In related news, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin made a surprise visit to Suvarnabhumi International Airport last Monday, February 5, amid reports of a recent biometric system malfunction that threw the airport into chaos during rush hour.
The glitch, a repeat offender, wreaked havoc on automated passport control channels, leaving departing jetsetters stranded and frustrated. Eyewitnesses claim that the unannounced appearance of the 61-year-old prime minister is a direct response to this technological turmoil.
In other news, Airports of Thailand (AOT) has unveiled an ambitious 4.4 billion baht investment plan for improvements at Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang International Airport.
These plans were made public by AOT Deputy Director Keerati Kitmanawat, who shared a vision to increase service and safety standards at Suvarnabhumi Airport to meet passenger traffic expected to return to pre-pandemic figures of 65 million in 2019. . In addition, AOT has outlined plans for an eastward expansion project at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
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