The Airports of Thailand's (AoT) board has approved a 47.9-billion-baht budget to build a new terminal and a new runway at Suvarnabhumi airport to ease congestion.
The two projects are part of a revised second-phase development for the airport. They are viewed as "urgent" and must be finished within the next four years, AoT board chairman Prasong Phunthanet said yesterday.
Prasong: Wants new runway, terminal
The AoT says the terminal and runway are needed to help the airport handle increasing passenger volume.
About 51 million passengers pass through the airport every year, which is far more than its existing capacity of 45 million a year.
The second terminal, a four-storey building covering 265,000 square metres, is designed to serve 20 million passengers each year, which will raise the airport's total capacity to 65 million passengers, Mr Prasong said.
The project, with an investment cost of 27.7 billion baht, will also cover a car park building and monorail system to take passengers to and from the new terminal.
Work is expected to be completed in 2019.
The new runway with a distance of 2.9km will include a fire response building and a drainage system.
The runway, with an investment cost of 20.2 billion baht, is expected to be finished in 2017.
The cost will include compensation which the AoT will pay residents living near the runway for its noise impact.
The airport hopes to increase flights and relieve air traffic congestion in case the first and second runways have to undergo repairs, Mr Prasong said.
To cover the 47.9-billion-baht investment budget, the AoT plans to use its working capital of 44 billion baht, topped up with annual income, Mr Prasong said.
The AoT will forward details to the Transport Ministry and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board for a decision.