https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand ... y/40035478

The construction of the third runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport will be completed in time for its use in July, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said Sunday.
Once the new runway is in use, the airport capacity will be increased from 67 flights per hour to 94 flights per hour, Suriya added.

The airport’s first runway is located on the west side of the airport and the second runway on the east side, separated by passenger terminal buildings and other facilities.

The third runway is being built further away from the first runway near the east edge of the airport.

Suriya said the third runway is being built in line with the government’s vision to make Thailand an aviation hub of the region.


Suvarnabhumi’s capacity to increase after 3rd runway is operational in July

“During the past 20 years, Suvarnabhumi Airport used to be ranked seventh, but its ranking has fallen to 76 due to poor services,” Suriya said.

“I have ordered the airport to rush to improve its services so that it will be among the top 20 best international airports in the world.”

He noted that the airport had recently opened its new passenger terminal building called Satellite 1 or SAT-1 building and 13 airlines have started using the new SAT-1 building. The number would increase to 16 by the end of this month, he added.

Suirya said about 86 flights were using the new passenger terminal and by the end of this month, the number would rise to 112 flights per day.

Suvarnabhumi’s capacity to increase after 3rd runway is operational in July

Out of interest, do you know when they first conceived of a 3rd runway?

Heathrow has been planning a 3rd parallel runway for decades (4, I think) and the last '3rd' runway (05/23) was closed in 2003.

seems rather than adding a new runway, they might be better investing in hiring more immigration officers and open more desks for arrivals
but thats a westerner thinking 555555555

I see the departure tax going to 1000 Baht in the near future. Somebody needs to pay, right? 300 Baht more times 40M passengers. Every year. Cheers !

Here is my list of services that could be improved:

- more booths for faster immigration process
- working walkways
- trolleys at the arrival gate
- clean toilets
- special hangout area for delayed flights or long-layover connections
- open air smoking areas
- 7-11 or similar minimarket with reasonable prices

...just to name a few..

Doc67 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:11 am Out of interest, do you know when they first conceived of a 3rd runway?

Heathrow has been planning a 3rd parallel runway for decades (4, I think) and the last '3rd' runway (05/23) was closed in 2003.

That will happen at some point. They (whoever owns Heathrow) have spent millions buying up property.

The only other option is a new airport and apart from one out near the Thames estuary (Boris' idea) there is no other area, so expansion will happen.

YaTingPom wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 11:40 am

Doc67 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:11 am Out of interest, do you know when they first conceived of a 3rd runway?

Heathrow has been planning a 3rd parallel runway for decades (4, I think) and the last '3rd' runway (05/23) was closed in 2003.

That will happen at some point. They (whoever owns Heathrow) have spent millions buying up property.

The only other option is a new airport and apart from one out near the Thames estuary (Boris' idea) there is no other area, so expansion will happen.

It's too late for Heathrow, it's an environmental and political hot potato. The only two airports viable for am additional runway are Gatwick and Stansted. Both are surrounded by fields, not towns and of the 2, Stanstead only deals with short haul low cost carriers. If they offered long haul flights they have a huge catchment area of Essex, Herts, Suffolk, Norfolk and Lincs. Ask anyone in Norwich about getting a taxi to Heathrow!

Heathrow: too built up and overfly issues


Gatwick: Fields to the south and limited over fly issues.


Stansted. Plenty of space.


Catchment area for Stansted long haul routes.

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:31 am seems rather than adding a new runway, they might be better investing in hiring more immigration officers and open more desks for arrivals
but thats a westerner thinking 555555555

Last few years, its actually leaving BKK thats the bigger problem now, though having more immigration officers in Arrivals available in peak periods seems very desirable too