Don Mueang airport expands to cope with increasing number of passengers

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Bangkok – Airports of Thailand’s (AOT) Don Mueang Airport General Manager Sirote Duangratana says the airport is proceeding with its Phase 3 development plan to cope with the increasing number of passengers, as the airport is currently running beyond capacity.

The airport is currently designed to accommodate 30 million airline passengers annually, but it served 40 million passengers last year, a 6.42 percent increase from 2017.

Last year, the airport handled 272,361 commercial flights, or 757 flights daily, serving 25 domestic destinations by three carriers, and 68 international destinations by 13 others.

The airport’s general manager said the AOT has been improving facilities at the airport, including the expansion of the waiting areas at boarding gates, an increase in the number of passengers’ benches, and the introduction of a queuing ticket system for taxi cabs. The airport is currently renovating its 55 toilets, expected to be completed in June this year.

The Phase 3 development plan includes the construction of more parking buildings, the construction of a new international passenger terminal, the renovation of Terminal 1 and conversion to a domestic terminal, the expansion and renovation of aircraft parking bays, and the renovation of internal roads and traffic system. Those improvements are expected to be completed by 2024 to meet the increasing number of airline passengers.