Suvarnabhumi Airport covers an area of some 8,000 acres. This international airport is located about on the east-bound Bangna-Trat Highway in Bang Phli District, Samut Prakarn Province and is about 30 km from downtown Bangkok.

The airport could accommodate 30 million passengers per year when it first opened. The number is expected to increase to 45 million within a short space of time. After the expansion plan, the airport will up the airport capacity to cater for over 100 million passengers per year.

Terminal Layout

• Level one – Bus lobby
• Level two – the arrival hall for both domestic and international passengers.
• Level three – consists of airline passenger waiting lounges, shops, currency exchange booths, security checkpoints, meeting points, service counters and CIP lounges
• Level four – Departure. This hall features facilities for both international and domestic passengers, lounges for premium passengers, Thai Airways International PLC, customs control checkpoints, some governmental offices, airline booths, airport information counters and escalators in the center which can take passengers right up to restaurants on 6th floor
• Level five – the offices for Thai Airways International PLC and Star Alliance airlines
• Level six – restaurants, which can be accessed via the escalators from Level 4
• Level seven – an observation area

Passenger flow
Departing passengers
The departure hall is located on the 4th floor of the terminal. Passengers can access by car or by foot from the car parking buildings, which is connected to the 3rd floor of the departures hall. For international flights, passengers can check-in at counters 4-10 before proceeding to the passport control, located on the same floor.

The 7 concourse buildings (from A to G) are connected to the passenger terminal. The concourse buildings A and B are for domestic passengers. The rest is for international passengers. The 4th floor of concourse building D consists of a wide variety of shops that passengers can browse while waiting to board.

Before boarding, all passengers and hand luggage taken on board must be examined on 3rd and 4th floors in the airside area of the concourse buildings.

Departing passengers must be inspected for prohibited and restricted articles.

Arriving passengers
Arriving passengers come out on the passenger terminal on the 2nd floor of the concourse building. At the terminal, there are passport control checkpoints where passengers can collect their baggage. After passing the customs control checkpoints, they can proceed to the arrivals hall where they will find transportation counters, hotel and accommodation counters and a tourist information center. Authorized public taxi service is located outside the gates of this terminal.

Outside the arrivals hall are pick-up points. For passengers traveling with a tour agency, they must proceed to the 1st floor for buses and coaches.

Transit/transfer passengers
After exiting the aircraft, passengers on transit or transfer will have to go to the airside area and proceed to 3rd and 4th floors to complete departure procedures.

Domestic passenger flows
Domestic departure passengers (Airline Check-in Areas)

The departure hall for domestic flights is located on the 4th floor of the terminal. Passengers can check-in at counters 2 and 3. After checking in, they will have to proceed to the hold room where they and their hand luggage will be security screened.

Arriving passengers
Passengers enter the terminal through the 2nd floor of the concourse building to collect their baggage before proceeding to the arrival hall. Airport facilities outside the arrival hall are shared by domestic and international passengers.

Access to/from the airport
The airport can be accessed by several kinds of transportation including car, taxi, public bus and airport shuttle bus. The railway link between Bangkok and the airport is under construction and due to open in 2009.

Within the airport area, there is a bus terminal where tourists can take a bus to Pattaya, Rong Kluea Market (Thailand-Cambodia border), Nongkhai Province, Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat.

Car parking buildings: located at the front of the passenger terminal complex. There are 2 car park buildings with a capacity of approximately 5,000 cars. In addition, there are parking areas on the ground level on the exterior, which can accommodate approximately 1,100 cars. There is also a long term parking area that can accommodate approximately 4,000 cars and 78 buses.

Airport Hotel
The Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport is a 4 star hotel located 10 min walk from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. The hotel offers a 24 hr airport shuttle between the airport and the hotel.

City Bus
The airport operates 4 airport express bus routes to downtown Bangkok, including Silom Road, Khao San Road, Central World Plaza and Hua Lamphong Railway Station. The buses are air-conditioned with spaciousluggage space. The fare is 150 baht for the whole route. Passengers can get on the bus on the first floor of the terminal.

In addition, there are 12 city bus routes operated by Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA). The fare is cheaper (35 Baht or 1 USD) than the express bus. However, passengers must take an internal airport shuttle bus to the public transportation center’s bus terminal before they can board this kind of bus. The 12 routes available are as follows

• Minburi-Bangkapi
• Happy Land
• Victory Monument
• Khlong Toei (Customs Department) – via Onnut BTS station
• Samut Prakarn (Praeksa Garage)
• Samut Prakarn (Crocodile Farm Garage)
• Rangsit via Don Mueang and Ram Indra Rd.
• Rangsit via Don Mueang and Central Plaza LadPhrao
• Southern Bus Terminal via Ratchadamnoen Klang Rd. and Democracy Monument
• Central Plaza Rama II
• Future Park Rangsit via Dream World

Taxi
Metered taxis are available on the arrival hall. There is a 50 baht surcharge on the meter. The trips to the city will cost around 200 – 400 baht (plus highway tolls of 65 baht). The trip normally takes about 30 – 40 minutes, depending on the traffic.

Limousine
Additionally, limousine are available at the Arrivals Level (2nd floor), provided by Thai Royal First and the Airport of Thailand (AOT).