Airports of Thailand Unveils Ambitious New Phase for Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport – Fourth Runway & South Terminal
Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has announced a major revision of its Suvarnabhumi Airport development masterplan, aiming to significantly increase passenger capacity and strengthen Thailand’s status as a regional aviation hub.
Ms. Paweena Jariyathitipong, Acting President and Executive Vice President for Engineering and Construction, revealed on Wednesday that AOT is in the process of revising the Suvarnabhumi development blueprint to accommodate up to 150 million passengers annually by 2031, more than double its current capacity of 65 million.
The revised masterplan is expected to be completed by August or September 2025 and will then be submitted to the Cabinet for approval. A key feature of the plan includes the construction of an 81,000-square-metre East Terminal, designed to handle an additional 15 million passengers annually. This project, requiring an investment of 13.52 billion baht, is slated for Cabinet review before moving forward to the bidding and construction stages.
The expansion doesn’t stop there. Ms. Paweena detailed plans for a massive South Terminal covering 1.597 million square metres with 150 aircraft bays. In tandem, a fourth runway, Runway 4, will be constructed, boosting flight handling capacity to 120 flights per hour and accommodating 70 million passengers. This phase of the project now has an estimated cost of 170 billion baht, an increase from the previously projected 150 billion.
The current phase of Suvarnabhumi (termed the “Existing Phase”) allows for 65 million passengers, 94 flights per hour, and 79 gates over a 516,000-square-metre area. The new projects aim to vastly expand these capabilities.
Ms. Paweena emphasised that while the investments are significant, they will not negatively impact AOT’s financial stability. Funding sources will include internal revenue and low-interest loans, including those from international lenders. More concrete financial details are expected to be finalised by September or October 2025.
In addition, AOT is seeking investors to lease and develop two prime land plots surrounding the airport. The first, a 548-rai plot, is strategically located near the airport’s public transport hub and major roads such as Suvarnabhumi Roads 2 and 4, Lat Krabang Road, and Bangna-Trad Road. The second, a 462-rai plot accessible via Lat Krabang-Wat Sriwareenoi Road, is considered ideal for an entertainment complex.
These developments represent a bold step forward in Thailand’s aviation infrastructure, positioning Suvarnabhumi Airport as a global gateway with world-class facilities and connectivity.
Source: Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-05-11.
