Don Mueang Airport opens new Terminal 2 to serve growing passengers

BANGKOK, December 23 (TNA) - Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) is scheduled to open Terminal 2 of Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport on the Christmas Eve to relieve congestion at Terminal 1. Don Mueang Airport General Manager Phet Chan-charoen told journalists on Wednesday that the check-in service at Terminal 2 will start at 3am and the first takeoff for passengers passing the new terminal at 6am on December 24. Phet announced that Terminal 2 of Don Mueang Airport, in which there are six rows of check-in counters and 11 luggage X-ray machines capable of handling 1,800 bags an hour, will serve domestic flights of Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Lion Air and Thai Smile airlines, while Terminal 1 will serve international flights. Phet explained that the newly-renovated terminal will take over passengers of domestic flights who account for about 70 per cent of all passengers at Don Mueang Airport and congestion at Terminal 1, which has served about 90,000 passengers a day so far, should, thus, be well relieved. The Don Mueang Airport said Terminal 2 has passed safety checks, but shops and all other facilities should be completed by February 2016. According to the executive, Don Mueang Airport has served 28 million passengers a year and Thursday's opening of Terminal 2 should raise the airport's maximal capacity to 40 million passengers a year, while AOT has a plan to further expand service areas at the airport in the future. (TNA)