Bangkok airport to get three new terminals.

Thailand’s government showed faith in the future last week by approving a $2 billion plan to build three new terminals at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the main gateway to the Kingdom. The terminals will expand capacity and should be completed by 2024.

Saksayam Chidchob, Minister of Transport, said that the new terminals would boost the airport’s capacity by an additional 60 million passengers a year. Today, Suvarnabhumi is capable of handling 45 million passengers. The Minister is the Vice Chairperson of the panel in charge of upgrading Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Pressing ahead at this time is a display of optimism and determination. Air travel is just a tiny fraction of what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, and many airlines are struggling to survive.

Saksayam added that the panel is confident that air travel and arrivals in Thailand will return to previous levels once the global public health crisis has passed. The decision to green-light the expansion will ensure that the Airport can cope when air travel demand bounces back.

“We are looking ahead because the country’s main source of income is from the travel industry and air passengers account for 80 percent of tourist arrivals,” the Minister said. “Although the pandemic has disrupted air travel, vaccine campaigns are rolling out worldwide, and the situation is expected to improve.”

Once finished, the Airport will be able to handle up to 90 flights per hour, compared to the current capacity of 68.

Thailand is also expanding Don Muang International Airport’s capacity in Bangkok, and U-Tapao International Airport in neighboring Rayong province in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) advanced development zone.

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