Airports of Thailand (AOT) is currently reviewing its Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) airport master plan, rejiggering its overall terminal design and requirements for a more cost-effective and passenger-centric operation.

Currently, BKK consists of a single H-shaped northern terminal, a newly built Satellite 1 Terminal (SAT 1), and three runways. The current master plan involves the mirroring of the northern and SAT 1 terminals on the south.

AOT President Kerati Kijmanawat tells Aviation Week that as SAT 1 is serviced by a “single lifeline,” a baggage handling system and automated people mover, it is expensive to keep them operational 24/7 and therefore the operational cost per unit passenger is relatively high.

AOT’s review of the master plan will take another six months to complete. The new concept will see the construction of a larger southern terminal with hotels and a shopping mall, estimated to handle around 70 million passengers annually. This will bring the total capacity of BKK to 150 million.

If the review is feasible, the THB140 billion ($4 billion) project will enter detailed design, and construction will start in mid-2027.

BKK’s third runway has also opened but is in the familiarization phase. Aircraft movement remains at 64 flights per hour but will increase to 94 flights by next summer-winter season. Kerati said the 20% increase in new slots currently has no historical demand and is open for airlines.

To reduce crowding and queues at the departure halls, BKK will introduce a 24-hour check-in initiative in April, using an unutilized 4,000 bag capacity baggage storage system already constructed in the airport.