Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport BKK – or simply BSIA - opened in 2006 with a new name, following the partial closure of its former airport, Bangkok Don Muang International (presently offering only limited domestic flights). The name of Suvarnabhumi translates into the 'Golden Land'. BSIA has consistently received high ranks among large world airports, and calls itself the ‘Airport of Smiles’. It can handle 76 flight operations per hour, and its air-traffic control tower is presently the tallest (132 meters) in the world.

The Airport is located in Racha Thewa, in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, 30 km east of Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. It is directly accessible via the Bangkok Chon Buri Motorway (Hwy 7) or from either the Lat Krabang Rd. or the Bangna-Trat Rd. , and has five access and entrance routes. The new 28.6 km mostly elevated Airport Rail Link parallel to Motorway 7 and the Si Rat Expressway gets you quickly to the Airport.

With two very long runways and an estimated 40.5 million passengers a year, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is a hub for Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Orient Thai Airlines and Thai AirAsia, and is served by a myriad of national and international, regular & low-cost airlines and charters, offering direct and connecting flights to all points of the globe.

NOTE:  In spite of Bangkok city having been flooded recently, Suvarnabhumi Airport is providing services as usual - due to its well-designed flood protection system.

On-Airport accommodations include, (a) the 600-room Novotel hotel at  Bangkok Airport, located above the underground rail link station, in front of the passenger terminal.  (b) Fully-equipped ‘Day Rooms’ are located on Level 3 near gates A1-A6; and on level 4 near gates G1-G5.

 

The passenger terminal complex at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport has presently only one large main terminal, flanked by concourses A through G, which surround the main terminal and its multi-level parking garage in the shape of an H. (For detailed terminal information, click on 'Terminal Map'.) 

Parking options at Suvarnabhumi Airport: (For detailed parking information, click on 'Airport Parking'.)

To get from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to your destination you can rent a car, take a taxi (beware--only use authorized taxis!), a limousine (AOT limo service has a counter in Arrivals, 2d floor of charges flat fares), or use the Airport Rail Link, a Regional Train or one of the City Buses: Suvarnabhumi station is located right under the main terminal building (B1 Level, two floors below the Arrival Hall).

1. The new Airport Rail Link operates daily from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight. Trips on an Express Line train (non-stop to Makkasan) and the City Line train (six stops to Phaya Thai) takes each 15 and 27 minutes The ARL (Airport Rail Link) has two interchange stations, the Phaya Thai (changing for BTS Green Line) and the Makkasan (linking Phetchaburi station of theMRT Blue Line). Makkasan station will also serve as the City Airport Terminal with parking and baggage check-in facilities offered to passengers using the Express Line.

In the future, the ARL will add the SRT Red Line commuter service to Hua Lamphong-Bang Sue-Don Mueang-Rangsit and Taling Chan-Bang Sue-Phaya Thai-Hua Mak.

2. City Buses: (a) Four express buses run to downtown Bangkok: AE1 to Silom Road, via expressway; AE2 to Khao San Road via expressway; AE3 to CentralWorld via Sukhumvit Road; and AE4 to Hua Lamphong (Bangkok Central Railway Station) via expressway and Victory Monument.  NOTE HOWEVER that the Airport Express Bus, according to notice, has terminated operations in June 2011.  It is not clear whether this involves all four lines.
(b) Twelve  BTMA public bus routes 549 through 559 offer a cheaper ride (35 Baht), but passengers need to use a shuttle bus to the transportation center’s bus terminal prior to boarding the regular city buses.

Future Airport Developments: (a) A new domestic passenger terminal with access roads and carpark are to be completed by 2013. (b) Construction 2011-2016 calls for a third runway, aprons, a concourse building, a south tunnel connecting the present terminal to the new terminal and passenger transportation system, and extension of the terminal's east side.