Bangkok Airport Guide (BKK)

(Bangkok) Suvarnabhumi International Airport

Bang Phli, Samutprakarn, 10540 Bangkok, Thailand

BKK

66

(02) 132 1888

(02) 132 1889

aotpr@airportthai.co.th

www.airportthai.co.th/airportnew/bia/html

1 (The Domestic and International terminals are located in the same building. There are plans for the construction of a second terminal building for low-cost airlines.)

GMT + 7

The airport is located in Racha Thewa in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, 30km (18.5 miles) east of Bangkok.

Airport news: After more than four decades of planning, Bangkok's new 155-billion baht (US$4 billion) Suvarnabhumi International Airport (featuring one of the largest terminal buildings and the tallest control tower in the world) was officially opened in late September 2006. The new airport can handle as many as 76 flights per hour on its two simultaneously operating runways. Named Suvarnabhumi (meaning 'Golden Land') by His Majesty King Bumibol Adelyadej, the new airport is one of the biggest and most modern in the world. Long-term plans for four runways flanking two main terminals and two satellite buildings with a combined capacity capable of handling up to 100 million passengers and 6.4 million tonnes of cargo a year are on the drawing board.

Road access to the airport is provided by five new highways connected to Bangkok's outer ring road. The main access road (and the most convenient route) is an elevated two-by-five lane road going north from the passenger terminal to the new Bangkok-Chonburi Expressway.

Road access to the airport is provided by five new highways connected to Bangkok's outer ring road. The main access road (and the most convenient route) is an elevated two-by-five lane road going north from the passenger terminal to the new Bangkok-Chonburi Expressway.

Car rental service counters can be found at the Arrivals level. Travellers can book their rental car there and take the airport shuttle bus express route to the Transport Center, where the car can be picked up. Car rental services at the airport are provided by international and local operators.

Rail: Work on a city airport terminal in Makkasan and a 28.5km (17.5 miles) high-speed rail link to the new airport started in July 2005 and is due for completion by early 2008. When operational, the high-speed link is expected to take travellers from city to airport in 15 minutes.
Road: Taxi: Public taxis can be found on Level 2 (Arrivals). Alternatively, travellers can take a complimentary airport shuttle bus to the Transport Center taxi stand. 
Bus: Public bus service is provided from the bus terminal at the airport’s Transport Center (which can be reached by taking a free airport shuttle bus). Public buses depart frequently to Bangkok and the surrounding area. Buses go to Minburi (549), Happy Land (550), Victory Monument (551), On Nut BTS station (552), Samut Prakan (553) and Don Muang Airport (no. 554). In addition, Airport Express provides air-conditioned bus services between Suvarnabhumi Airport and Bangkok hotels, operating four bus routes to downtown Bangkok. The pick-up area for buses is by the inner curb on level 2 (Arrivals), while the drop-off area is by the inner curb on level 4 (Departures). Driving by taxi or bus from the airport to downtown Bangkok takes around 50 minutes.

There are information counters on the departure level (tel: (02) 132 9324/5/6/7) and just outside the luggage pick-up area on the arrival level (tel: (02) 132 9328/9).

Money and communications: Bureaux de change are located in the Arrivals hall on level 2. There are ATMs in several places throughout the terminal building. Public telephones are available on all levels.
Eating and drinking: There are plenty of restaurants, food outlets and bars in the terminal building, on level 1, 2, 3 and 6. In addition, there are four restaurants and two bars in the airport hotel nearby.
Shopping: Shops selling everything from freshly cut flowers to designer clothing are available on levels 2, 3 and 4 of the terminal building. Duty free shops are on the departures level (level 4).
Luggage: Luggage trolleys are available in the Arrivals and Departures halls. Lost and found services can be reached on (02) 134 221.
Other facilities: A wide variety of facilities are available in the terminal building, including traditional Thai massage and luxurious spa facilities. The Airport Medical Center is available on (02) 132 7777. Airline lounges are located on level 3, some of which offer first class and business travellers luxury spa and massage rooms, a fine-dining area, slumber rooms with full-size flat beds, a business centre, a host of private meeting rooms, state-of-the-art video and visual entertainment rooms, shower rooms, deluxe seating areas and built-in check-in facilities.

There are no business facilities at the airport but the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel (see Hotels below) offers banquet and conference facilities for up to 800 people, as well as six meeting rooms.

Facilities and arrangements for disabled travellers are in place, but the airport’s designers have been criticised for not making the airport sufficiently accessible for disabled people. For example, it has been argued that the restrooms designed for people with special needs are not spacious enough for wheelchair users.

The 612-room Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel (tel: (02) 131 1111) is the airport’s official hotel. It is located in front of the passenger terminal building and connected to it by a 300m (328 yards), air-conditioned underground walkway. The hotel is situated straight above the underground rail station that upon completion (expected in early 2008) will be connected to the city of Bangkok by a high-speed rail link. Hotel Ibis Huamark Bangkok (tel: (02) 308 7888), Avana Bangkok Hotel (tel: (02) 744 4280), Royal Princess Srinakarin (tel: (02) 721 8400) and Kanary House (tel: (02) 374 5544) are some hotels that are located within 30 minutes from the airport.