General info: Bangkok's Suvarnabumi Airport was officially opened in September 2005, although scheduled commercial operations started only on September 15, 2006. On that day, Thai Airways moved some of its domestic flights from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi in order to check the airport's systems in daily operational conditions before moving all flights to the new airport on the 28th of the month. Jetstar Asia was the first international carrier to make the complete move to Suvarnabhumi, flying there from Singapore since the 15th. Other Thai airlines such as Bangkok Airways and Thai Air Asia have also gradually started operations at Suvarnabhumi before the 28th.

On September 28, Don Muang was closed for scheduled commercial operations and all airlines moved to Suvarnabhumi. Don Muang continued to be used for private jets and charter flights, as well as maintenance. The Thai Air Force, owner of the airport complex, continued operations there too. Suvarnabhumi, which until then used the code NBK, took over the code BKK.

On 25 March 2007, Don Muang was re-opened following capacity problems at Suvarnabhumi. Initially only Nok Air and One-Two-Go relocated to the old airport, while Thai Airways shifted a large part of its domestic flights there.

Airport layout: BKK has one terminal, with 560,000 square metres one of the largest in surface in the world, for both domestic and international flights. The passenger concourse is built in an H-shape and is divided into seven sectors. The airport authorities are looking at the option of building a low cost terminal like in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Suvarnabhumi's control tower is, standing at 132.2 metres (about 430 feet), the tallest in the world.

Runway layout: 01L/19R 13,120ft (4000m) and 01R/19L 12,135ft (3700m). On the satellite image a third runway under construction can be seen.

Spotting: Suvarnabhumi has a number of good spotting locations, and whether you'll be allowed to stay for a prolonged period of time in one particular spot mainly depends on the police officer you'd be dealing with. As Suvarnabhumi is not a military airport, taking pictures of aircraft should be no problem where as at Don Muang it was restricted.

• A - There is a perimeter road circumnavigating the airport offering various spotting locations, mainly along Rwy 01R/19L. The fence is not too high, and you can take pictures with the terminal and control tower on the background.
• B - The passenger terminal has a viewing gallery on the seventh floor, accessible via the departures lounge. It is quite small and the views of the apron are obstructed by metal pipes and ducts. Better views can be obtained from the coffee shop on the sixth floor, and full-frame pictures of a taxiing A340-size aircraft are possible with a 300mm lens.
• C - The mail sorting centre is located right next to the Rwy 19R threshold. You can get great final approach shots here, as well as an overview of the cargo apron.
• D - There is a dirt road leading to the approach path of Rwy 01L. There is a lot of construction traffic here and the many passing trucks cause a lot of dust to go up in the air. To get here from spot A, follow the road southwards, take the exit just before the bridge, pass underneath the main road and turn left.

Click here to see pictures taken at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Click here to see pictures of the Airbus A380's first visit to Bangkok

BKK is the main base of Thai Airways, Nok Air, Bangkok Airways, Orient Thai & One-Two-Go, Thai Air Asia, PB Air.

Website: www.airportthai.co.th

Click here to read the report about the start of full-scale commercial operations on 28 September 2006

Click here to read my article published in the November/December 2006 issue of Airports of the World

Click here to see pictures of the Airbus A380's first visit to Bangkok