The plan to overhaul Don Mueang airport (DMK) to make it a fully fledged aviation hub is now clearly defined with an estimated outlay of just over 10 billion baht and full completion slated for 2016.
AirAsia passengers crowd check-in counters at T1, where the annual capacity will soon be exceeded. BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA
Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) board on Friday gave approval in principle to proceed with the major renovation, which centres around the revival of passenger terminal 2 (T2), a facelift for terminal 1 (T1) and improvement of other facilities.
Broadening the shoulders of a runway and taxiway so that DMK can cater to the double-decker A380 superjumbo will also be included in the redevelopment plan for Bangkok's old airport.
AoT chairman Sita Divari said the A380-oriented plan may cost 1 billion baht, enabling DMK to handle all types of aircraft and serving all aviation needs.
The overhaul comes in two stages. The first one, classified as urgent, will be carried out within a one-year period starting next month, with the second stage set for implementation between May 2013 and January 2016.
The first stage, estimated to cost at least 3.40 billion baht, involves the revitalisation of T2, repairing Pier 5, the South Corridor building and the seven-storey car park building that is part of T2.
Expected to cost 7.29 billion baht, the second phase envisages a longer list of undertakings including further modernisation of T1, reviving the old domestic passenger terminal and fixing terminal cargo terminal 1.
Others are improving the VIP terminal, expanding the western runway and improving the taxiway, improving the fuel hydrant system and extending the South Corridor to connect with the old domestic passenger terminal.
The state-controlled airport operator appears to be gearing up the DMK overhaul primarily to match the growing capacity needed in the near term as a result of fast-growing traffic generated by low-cost carrier AirAsia, which moved its base to DMK from Suvarnabhumi.
Passenger throughput is projected by AoT to reach 16.9 million from October 2012 to September 2013, up 523% from the previous year, while take-offs and landings will soar 311% to 153,000.
The projected passenger volume will exceed T1's current capacity of 16.5 million a year.
The planned revival of T2, along with the improvements to Pier 5 and baggage carousels, will boost DMK's capacity to 22.5 million passengers a year.
The surge in passenger traffic at DMK came as the century-old airport rose from the devastation of the 2011 flood.
