Airports of Thailand (AoT) has announced it will build a third passenger terminal at Don Mueang International Airport to increase capacity to handle up to 50 million passengers a year in 2029.

AoT President Kerati Kijmanawat said on Tuesday that the airport can handle 30 million passengers a year and will soon reach its full capacity.

The new terminal will be built on the south side. It will have 155,000m² of additional space to handle 18 million more passengers annually.

Mr Kerati said that when the third terminal is built, the present first and second terminals will be merged to support domestic passengers, expected to reach 22 million a year in the near

AoT will also improve traffic in front of the terminal buildings, he said.

He said the third terminal will have 12 parking bays for aeroplanes.

Along with the terminal expansion, AoT will renovate itsseven-storey parking building and construct a new VVIP reception building and an office building for airlines.