With its grand opening, the terminal is poised and prepared to accommodate the impending flood of tourists from China. This increase in tourist traffic is directly influenced by Thailand’s recent decision to waive visa fees for Chinese nationals, a significant move predicted to trigger a substantial rise in the frequency of flights between the two nations. Accurately, an upswing of about 300 flight schedules is projected, bolstering passenger traffic by an impressive 620,000 individuals per month.
Furthermore, Airports of Thailand (AOT) has big plans sheeted up for Suvarnabhumi Airport. A substantial funding of 7.8-billion-baht is earmarked for the airport’s second phase of development, with an ambitious kick-off target as early as 2024. Initiatives in the pipeline include setting the ball rolling for a competitive bidding process focused on the baggage conveyor system for the satellite terminal.
The SAT-1 terminal, aligning with its revised schedule post-Covid-19 setbacks, will be officially operational following a soft launch slated for Friday. Initially anticipated to open in 2021, the terminal’s inauguration was unavoidably delayed by the global pandemic. Presently, 70% of the terminal’s commercial area stands completed, thanks to sorted out issues revolving around King Power.
AOT’s CEO, Kirati Kitmanawat, has confirmed that SAT-1 is now fully equipped to service a full load of passengers. The new terminal, with an added footprint of 216,000 square metres to the passenger handling sector, plus the provision of 28 additional aircraft parking stands, significantly raises the airport’s capacity. This strategic upgrade now allows the airport to handle an astounding 60 million passengers per year, an impressive leap from 45 million.
After a calculated one-month trial run, AOT anticipates SAT-1 will reach full operational capacity and efficiency. During this period, Thai AirAsia X and Thai Vietjet will be utilizing the terminal. Flight XJ 0761, belonging to Thai AirAsia X, will grace the SAT-1 terminal as the first to depart for Shanghai. The airline has ambitiously scheduled 14 flights daily for the first operational week.
In addition, Thai Vietjet will conduct four flights per day from the terminal. AOT is simultaneously in aggressive talks with 10 other airlines for SAT-1 package deals which include marquee airliners like Emirates, Etihad Airways, All Nippon Airways, Qatar Airways, Mahan Air and Thai Airways.
Not to mention, AOT is sketching out a strategy to provide luring incentives such as discounts on ground services, office rentals and bridge fees. These incentive proposals are expected to be laid out before AOT’s board within the forthcoming month.
Meanwhile, signals of recovery are being observed at the six AOT-operated airports across Thailand. The passenger arrivals statistics have bolstered to a solid 70% of what it was before the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to the European, American and Central Asian markets. The passenger volume from the Chinese market, however, trails behind, still dormant.
On the positive side, domestic passenger traffic has indeed done a complete 180, fully recuperating to 100% recovery.
AOT is bullish on its projections, expecting the six airports under its management to handle a total of 100 million passengers in fiscal 2023, and further expecting this to surge to 150 million in 2024, an optimistic outlook positioned beyond pre-Covid figures of 142 million in 2019. Suvarnabhumi Airport as a standalone entity may entertain 40 million passengers in 2023 alone and even dare to target 60 million in 2024.
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