The president continued by saying the additional terminal would increase the airport’s annual passenger capacity to 30 million. The annual capacity of Terminal 1 is 18 million, but last year it handled 21.5 million passengers. The excess numbers caused congestion and queues over peak holiday periods.
The AoT president explained that contractors working on 20 different renovation projects had promised they would finish in time. He noted that the total cost of the renovation would likely come in at THB2 billion which is THB1 billion lower than the original forecast.
The August opening is eight months later than planned as contractors discovered that more work needed to be done to ensure the terminal satisfied the needs of 21st century travellers. Terminal 2 will serve domestic passengers and Terminal 1 will become a dedicated international building.
Don Muang Airport closed in September 2006 when Thailand’s principal air hub was moved to the brand new Suvarnabhumi Airport. While Terminal 1 re-opened in 2007, Terminal 2 remained abandoned and only saw service as a temporary shelter for local residents displaced by flooding in 2011.
Don Muang sets date for revamped terminal opening
News in Asia
The Airports of Thailand (AoT) says that it looks like the revamped terminal at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport will open in August. AoT president Nirandra Theeranatsin said renovation work on Terminal 2 was progressing nicely and he was confident it would be finished in time for the live testing of equipment and facilities by June.