Suvarnabhumi Airport extension approved by Cabinet

Thailand's Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport THB62 billion (USD2 billion) expansion plan was approved by Cabinet on 24-Aug-2010 (Bangkok Post/Radio Australia News/Reuters, 24/25-Aug-2010). The expansion will increase the airport's passenger handling capacity to 60 million p/a from 45 million at present. Construction is planned to commence in 2012 and be completed in 2015 or 2016. Airports of Thailand (AoT) plans to allocate THB45 billion (USD1.4 billion) of funds to finance the expansion and secure another THB17.45 billion (USD554 million) from external sources such as loans or issuing debt instruments. The planned spendings were reduced from THB77 billion (USD2.4 billion) due to the cancellation of plans for a third runway. Construction is hoped to commence in 18 months' time. The expansion includes the construction of:

• a satellite passenger terminal located 800m south of the existing terminal and linked by an underground automated people mover transport system;
• a concourse able to 28 aircraft including A380s,
• new taxiways;
• buildings for airline offices;
• car park facilities. [more-Airports of Thailand]