A budget of THB 62.5 Billion Baht (US$ 2 billion) has been confirmed for the further development of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International airrport…
BANGKOK- A budget of THB 62.5 Billion Baht (US$ 2 billion) has been confirmed for the further development of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International airrport for the years 2011-2017. Airports Authority of Thailand (AOT) awarded a project management consultant contract, worth over THB 800 million to EPM Consortium. At the signature of the MOU, Anirut Thanomkulbutra, President of Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) declared that “Suvarnabhumi Airport can currently handle 45 million passengers annually. However, recent figures showed more than 48 million passengers utilized Suvarnabhumi Airport in 2011, altogether with this year’s expected figure of 51 million passengers, and with this upward trend expected to continue in the future, it is necessary to commence the expansion of Suvarnabhumi Airport as soon as possible to increase the handling capacity by 15 million passengers (bringing up the total to 60 million) by 2017”.
AOT President explained that the Development Project comprises four areas of expansion:
- Construction of Midfield Satellite Terminal (1), with 216,000 square meters of usable space, 28 contact gates, 960,000 square meters of aircraft apron; construction of South Tunnel and Passenger Transportation System.
- Extension on the west-side of the existing Passenger Terminal Building; construction of a new airline offices and car park building.
- System design and construction of utilities.
- Appoint of a Project Management Consultant (PMC).
EPM Consortium will oversee all aspects of the project, ranging from the designs to the completion of the constructions, over a six-year period. Following assessment of the various infrastructures to be designed, construction is expected to start in mid-2013 and ready for operations in 2017. EPM promised to complete and deliver the project on schedule. The expansion project has been discussed for at least four years and was initially planned to start by 2010 for a completion in 2014. It has been delayed due to political changes in Thailand and management renewal at the head of the airport’s authority.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
