Suvarnabhumi Airport expansion to complete in 2020

SAMUT PRAKAN, July 21 (TNA) -- Construction expansion of Suvarnabhumi Airport is now expected to complete in 2020 and could accommodate about 90 million passengers annually upon completion, said Transport Deputy Minister Pailin Chuchottaworn. Mr Pailin’s remarks were made Friday after inspecting progress of the current expansion of the airport in Samut Prakan province. The minister said he had instructed the Airports of Thailand Public Co, Ltd (AoT) to speed up the expansion works while the concerned agencies had assured that the expansion could complete in mid-2020. Upon completion, the airport capacity would be increased to serve 90 million passengers, up from 63 million now. Other outstanding features include a larger space of up to 200,000 square metres, now 80 per cent complete, which will be installed with an automated people mover system (APM) and connect with the current passenger terminal, and building a new airline office building. Simultaneously, AoT board has given the green light to switch the construction of passenger terminal, airline offices and parking lot to the western side from the original eastern part in a bid to ease passenger congestion. Its proposal will be forwarded to the cabinet for its final approval next month. (TNA)