Thailand

Suvarnabhumi Airport Opens

Suvarnabhumi Airport

Date: 28 September 2006

     The brand new international airport called Suvarnabhumi (Thai for golden land) is the source of much pride for Thailand. It is a state of the art complex that is capable of handling both today and tomorrows needs. It is an incredibly important structure as well. Thailand plans to be the major traffic hub for the region, as stated on their national agenda. This structure will definately support this aim.
     The new airport is a vast improvement on the previous one, Don Muang. It is clean, spacious and bright. There's no need to worry if you are stuck at the airport for any period of time. The airport is packed full of shops and restaurants. It will take you hours to get through each one. It can handle up to 76 flights per hour, or in other words it can handle 100 million passengers per year and 3 million tonnes of cargo per year. However the Thai cabinet recently approved the use of both airports for commercial traffic. This is because Suvarnabhumi airport needs some repairs. The Thai cabinet has estimated that it will only take 45 days for the repairs to be completed and most of the air traffic will be returned to Suvarnabhumi airport.
    When Suvarnabhumi airport was opened, the old airport - Don Muang, was closed to the public. Control of the old airport was handed over to the military.

Facts:

Airport codes: The old airport - Don Muang has the code BKK, where as Suvarnabhumi airport has the code NBK. Be sure to check your ticket before flying over.
The airport is located at Racha Thewa, which is 30 kilometers East of Bangkok.
It should cost no more than 400 Baht to get to Bangkok from the airport.
To get a bus or taxi you must go to the locations on the map below,
indicated with :
NOTE: To avoid being scammed at the airport remember to not accept 'great deals' as soon as you exit customs. (There are many people that will offer you a ride to the city for 2000 Baht)
As soon as you leave customs, go down to the ground level. Outside the airport at level 1 are many taxis for tourists, but they are expensive. Go down to ground level where the taxis are for the locals. Always remember to either negotiate the fare as soon as you jump in, or ask for the meter to be turned on.
A taxi coordinator will give you a received when you jump in. Keep this, as this is your proof of purchase. Some taxi drivers will take this as soon as you get in then charge you more at the end.
You pay for all freeway tolls to Bangkok.