Lot’s of travel news in today’s newspapers:

First is a story about the expansion of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, which took so long to build it was nearly at capacity the day it opened. According to the Bangkok Post, the airport operator, Airports Authority of Thailand (AOT), plans to go ahead with expansion plans that will increase capacity from 45 Million passengers a year to 60 Million. The plans include a third runway and a mid-field concourse. Ground work for these was started before the airport opened, and now the ground has settled enough for construction to begin. Although AOT has its own funding sources for these projects, they still need to get government approval to get the projects started in the current economic climate. The projects will take five years to complete, so let’s hope approval is forthcoming.

Next up is confirmation that Thai Airways will be leaving Don Muang airport on 29 March, as previously announced. The move leaves Nok Air and the ailing One-Two-Go as the only airlines still using Don Muang. Nok will almost certainly move to Suvarnabhumi at some point in the near future.

Lastly, the Bangkok Post is also reporting that the navy is seeking the city of Pattaya’s help to upgrade the infrastructure in and around U-Tapao airport, which belongs to the Royal Thai Navy, but which does serve as a passenger airport for a few domestic and international flights. The airport briefly became Thailand’s main international airport when protesters shut down both of Bangkok’s airports late last year, and the navy wants to be sure they’re prepared for any future onslaughts which might tax its rather small capacity.

Posted by michael under Travel News
Tags: Airports • Bangkok
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