Bangkok: Airports of Thailand (AOT) recently organized a media tour to exhibit the readiness of Suvarnabhumi Airport’s S1 building and Runway 3, prior to their official opening by His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen on March 20.

According to Thai News Agency, AOT’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Keerati Kitmanawat, guided members of the Thai press through the new facilities, ensuring that both the S1 building and Runway 3 are prepared for their royal inauguration. Although the S1 building initially opened on September 28, 2023, and Runway 3 is scheduled to open on November 3, 2024, the upcoming ceremony will mark their official debut.

Mr. Keerati explained that the S1 building has all 28 gates operational, capable of accommodating 150 flights daily. The newly completed 4-kilometer-long Runway 3 enhances Suvarnabhumi Airport’s capacity significantly, boosting the number of flights handled per hour from 64 to 96. This improvement aligns with the airport’s overall operations, which handle over 600 flights daily.

By 2025, the addition of Runway 3 is expected to enable Suvarnabhumi Airport to manage up to 64 million passengers annually, solving issues related to circular landings. The S1 building can accommodate 300-350 large aircraft flights per day. Furthermore, plans for a new construction on the airport’s south side are underway, with completion anticipated by 2033. This project aims to cater to an additional 70 million passengers annually, ultimately allowing Suvarnabhumi Airport to handle up to 150 million passengers each year. Currently, the airport ranks among the top 30 globally in terms of passenger handling capacity.