Bangkok Airport: A Sprawling Hub Of Aviation

Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as Bangkok Airport, is one of two international airports serving Bangkok, Thailand. Covering an area of 3,240 ha (32.4 km2; 8,000 acres), it is one of the biggest international airports in Southeast Asia and the busiest airport in the country. The airport is located in Racha Thewa in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of downtown Bangkok.

Suvarnabhumi Airport's size and location

Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as Bangkok Airport, is one of two international airports serving Bangkok, Thailand. The other is Don Mueang International Airport, which was the main international airport until 2006. Suvarnabhumi Airport is located in Racha Thewa in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, about 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of downtown Bangkok. It covers an area of 3,240 hectares (32.4 square kilometres; 8,000 acres) and is one of the biggest international airports in Southeast Asia.

The airport is on land that was formerly known as Nong Nguhao, or 'Cobra Swamp', in the districts of Bang Kapi, Lat Krabang, Bang Na, and Prawet on the eastern side of Bangkok. The terminal building was designed by Helmut Jahn of Murphy/Jahn Architects and constructed primarily by ITO JV. The airport had the world's tallest free-standing control tower from 2006 to 2014, standing at 132.2 metres (434 feet). The terminal building is also one of the largest single-building airport terminals in the world, spanning 563,000 square metres (6,060,000 square feet).

Bangkok’s high ambient temperatures and humidity levels demanded an innovative approach to the building's design. The arrival and departure halls are fully glazed, while the arched concourses combine glass and translucent membranes to form a macrostructure. The concourse design takes advantage of the natural stratification of air by conditioning only the lower 2.5 metres of the space with radiant floor cooling and displacement air systems. The combination of innovative envelope materials with a precise cooled-floor system ensures occupant comfort and reduces the cooling power to 60% of a conventional system.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is a major cargo air freight hub and is also the main hub for Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways. It is the 17th busiest airport in the world and the busiest in Thailand, handling 60 million passengers in 2017. The airport has a total of 120 parking bays, with 51 contact gates and 69 remote gates, five of which can accommodate the Airbus A380 aircraft. The airport has two parallel runways to accommodate simultaneous departures and arrivals.

The airport's design and architecture

Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as Bangkok Airport, is one of two international airports serving Bangkok, Thailand. The airport is located in Racha Thewa in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, 30 kilometres east of Bangkok. It is one of the biggest international airports in Southeast Asia, covering an area of 3,240 ha (32.4 km2; 8,000 acres).

Bangkok's high ambient temperatures and humidity levels posed challenges for the building's envelope to control solar gains. The design incorporates fritted glass with 95% opacity to the north and solid panels to the south, limiting solar gain to 1%. The cantilevered louvered roof shades the forty-metre-high vertical glazing from direct sunlight. In the concourses, transparent glazing and translucent panels alternate, with an increasing frit density as the glazing ascends to meet high transparency and protection requirements from the low latitude sun.

The overall design of the glazed façade's steel trusses was intended to blend into a curved profile. New weather, noise, and heat protection solutions have been developed, along with mechanical equipment to optimise comfort with minimal energy consumption. The arrival and departure halls are fully glazed, while the arched concourses combine glass and translucent membranes to form a macrostructure accommodating varying circulation patterns.

The airport's architecture and engineering are seamlessly integrated, with steel, concrete, glass, and membrane working together within architectural, structural, and environmental parameters. The use of innovative materials and advanced technological systems, along with unusual construction processes, has resulted in a sophisticated and intelligent design.

Its status as a regional aviation hub

Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as Bangkok Airport, is one of two international airports serving Bangkok, Thailand. Covering an area of 3,240 ha (32.4 km2; 8,000 acres), it is one of the biggest international airports in Southeast Asia. Its size, coupled with its location in Racha Thewa in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of downtown Bangkok, makes it a regional aviation hub.

Bangkok Airport is the main hub for Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways, as well as the operating base for Thai VietJet Air and Thai AirAsia. It is also a regional gateway and connecting point for various foreign carriers connecting to Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. The airport is a major cargo air freight hub, with a designated Airport Free Zone and road links to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) on Motorway 7. In 2019, it was the 20th busiest cargo airport in the world.

The airport's size and facilities enable it to handle a large volume of passengers and flights. It has a capacity of 76 flight operations per hour and can handle 45 million passengers and 3 million tonnes of cargo per year. The airport has two parallel runways, the east runway being 4,000 m long and 60 m wide, and the west runway being 3,700 m long and 60 m wide, allowing for simultaneous departures and arrivals. The terminal building was designed by Helmut Jahn and constructed primarily by ITO JV. It features innovative architectural, structural, and environmental design, including the use of new materials and advanced technological systems. The main terminal roof is designed with structural elements and bays placed in a cantilevered, wavelike form to appear to "float" over the concourse beneath.

Bangkok Airport's status as a regional aviation hub is further solidified by its accessibility and connectivity to the city. The Airport Rail Link provides a cheap and reliable connection to the Bangkok city centre, and the airport is also served by public buses, taxis, and tuk-tuks.

Transport to and from the airport

Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as Bangkok Airport, is one of two international airports serving Bangkok, Thailand. The other is Don Mueang International Airport, which is now a low-cost airlines hub.

Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport is about 25 kilometres (16 miles) from downtown Bangkok. The airport is well-connected to the city by road and rail.

By Road

Bangkok Airport offers a 24/7 private transfer service to and from the airport. You can book a private car, taxi, or limo service in advance or upon arrival. This option is ideal for those who want a direct, door-to-door transfer without the hassle of waiting for a taxi or shuttle bus. Some providers also offer eco-friendly electric vehicles with Wi-Fi and bottled water on board.

By Rail

The airport is also connected to the city centre by an underground rail link. An automated people mover (APM) system links the main terminal to the underground station, providing a seamless transfer experience.

By Bus

While not explicitly mentioned, it is likely that there are public bus services connecting the airport to the city, as one source mentions "the hassle of waiting for a taxi or crowding onto a shuttle bus".

The airport's history and future plans

Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as Bangkok International Airport, is one of two international airports serving Bangkok, Thailand. Covering an area of 3,240 ha (32.4 km2; 8,000 acres), it is one of the biggest international airports in Southeast Asia. The airport is located in Racha Thewa in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, 30 kilometres east of Bangkok.

The airport's name, Suvarnabhumi, means "Golden Land", specifically referring to the Thailand-Cambodia-Laos-Burma region. The name was chosen by HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose name includes Bhumi, referring to the Buddhist golden kingdom, thought to have been to the east of the Ganges, possibly somewhere in Southeast Asia.

The airport was designed by Helmut Jahn of Murphy/Jahn Architects and constructed by ITO JV. It was the result of an international competition and established the basis of collaboration between Werner Sobek, Matthias Schuler, and Helmut Jahn. The terminal building features a cantilevered, wavelike roof and a combination of innovative envelope materials with a precise cooled-floor system, reducing the cooling power to 60% of a conventional system. The airport's construction took into account Bangkok's high ambient temperatures and humidity levels, employing fritted glass and solid panels to limit solar gain to 1%.

Suvarnabhumi Airport officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006 and for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September 2006. It is currently the main hub for Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways, as well as the operating base for Thai VietJet Air and Thai AirAsia. The airport is also a major Cargo Air Freight Hub, handling 60 million passengers in 2017 and accounting for the largest share of air traffic at Thailand's airports in 2023, with 51.7 million passengers.

To accommodate future growth, Suvarnabhumi Airport is undergoing significant expansion projects, including the construction of additional runways and terminals, with a $7 billion investment to boost capacity and compete regionally. The airport's master plan involves mirroring the existing northern and SAT 1 terminals on the south, improving cost-effectiveness and passenger experience.

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