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'Golden
Land' is what Suvarnabhumi - pronounced 'Sue wanna boom' -
translates to, and Bangkok's new airport is set to shine brightly in the
competitive world of airport design and usability. The new, ultra
modern, airport opened at 3am on 28 September 2006 from which moment all
flights, both domestic and International will depart and land on its
fresh new runways.
The
airport, which is being touted as the largest single terminal airport in
the world, is expected to cost roughly 155 Billion Baht during its
ongoing Phase 1. The airport has been designed to carry 45 million
passengers in Phase 1, 54 million passengers in Phase 2 and a mammoth
120 million passengers by Phase 3. It is very vague as to when Phase 3
would be complete, but some estimates suggest 15 - 20 years. In 2004 the
old Don Muang Airport processed around 38 million passengers.
As
there is only one terminal all domestic and international passengers
will pass through the same building. The passengers terminal complex has
a length of 444 metres, and width of 11 metres. There are 7 concourse
buildings, A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, which together with the passenger
terminal expand over 563,000 square metres. A massive increase in space
over Don Muang's 321,166 square metres (terminal's 1 and 2).
Car
park buildings are located at the front of the passenger terminal with a
capacity for around 5,000 cars. There is also car parking areas at
ground level which can hold around 1,100 cars and a long term parking
area which can hold around 4,000 cars and 78 buses.
Suvaranabhumi
is also claiming to have the tallest control tower in the world. The
control tower, which can manage 76 flights per hour, rises over the
height of 132.2 metres.
Inside
the terminal, there
is a total of 10 check-in islands, 360 check in counters, 51 aircraft
contact gates and 5 gates (with 3 bridges) which have been especially
prepared for the Airbus
A380. To keep temperatures down, the innovative cooling system
disperses cold air through diffusers attached to a special cold water
system in the floor.
Enough
facts and figures? See our other topics on Suvarnabhumi for an idea on
what is available eat, drink, what to do etc.
See
other recent news regarding:
Suvarnabhumi
Airport, Bangkok
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