Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)

Posted by admin on January 16th, 2009 filed in Living here, Politics

Suvarnabhumi International Airport is Thailand’s new major aviation hub serving the capital of Bangkok. After several delays and almost 30 years of planning, on September 15, 2006 the air hub opened for limited national flight services, and started operating all international and domestic commercial air travel on September 28.

Suvarnabhumi is the principal hub for Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways International, PB Air, and Orient Thai Airlines, as well as a focus city for EVA Air, China Airlines, Emirates Airline, Cathay Pacific, Indian Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, and Royal Jordanian.
This modern international airport is situated in Samut Prakan province’s Bang Phli district, approximately 15.5 miles east of Bangkok’s downtown area. Suvarnabhumi is a name that was chosen by the Thai king and refers to the golden kingdom which is believed to have been situated somewhere in Asia’s southeastern part.

This huge airport, designed by Helmut Jahn of Murphy/Jahn Architects, boasts the globe’s highest control tower (132.2 m), as well as the third most spacious single-terminal building in the world. Suvarnabhumi Airport ranks among Asia’s busiest air hubs and is the Thai capital’s primary facility for all international flight services. Bangkok International Airport guide

Suvarnabhumi inherited Don Mueang’s airport code BKK after the city’s old air hub ceased commercial services. A modern motorway links the airport, Bangkok, and the country’s severely industrial Eastern Seaboard, where most of the manufacturing for export takes place.

The People’s Alliance for Democracy seized and blockaded the airport from November 25 to December 3, 2008, demanding the Somchai Wongsawat government’s resignation. All flight services to and from Suvarnabhumi International Airport were canceled, resulting in hundreds of thousands stranded travellers. Since December 5, the airport is fully operational again.