The board of Airports of Thailand (AoT) has approved the construction of a reserve runway and a new terminal passenger at Suvarnabhumi airport worth a combined 48 billion baht.
Speaking after the board meeting on Wednesday, AoT board chairman Prasong Phunthanet said a 2.9km reserve runway, estimated to cost 20 billion baht, would be built in the same area as the planned third runway.
The second passenger terminal building would be constructed on a 265,000-square-metre space to the north of the airport's Concourse A. The four-storey building would serve domestic and international passengers, with a multi-storey parking space for 2,500-3,000 cars. It could be accessed via monorail to facilitate passengers.
The 28-billion-baht facility will allow the international airport to serve 20 million more passengers a year, Mr Prasong said. The current capacity of the airport is 45 million passengers a year.
“Both projects are deemed urgent and not included in the second phase of Suvarnabhumi airport's development plan. The reserve runway will be completed in 2017 to accommodate increases in flight numbers, or to be used when the first and second runways undergo major repairs in the future.” Mr Prasong said.
“The new terminal building will solve congestion at the airport. When completed in 2019, Suvarnabhumi airport will be able to support 65 million passengers a year.”
AoT would submit the projects first to the Transport Ministry and the Office of National Economic and Social Development Board, and then to cabinet, Mr Prasong said.