Bangkok's Airport gets capacity boost with new terminal opening

BANGKOK - Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport launched the soft opening of its new terminal on Friday, bringing additional capacity to the Thai capital's main gateway as the country prepares for a tourist surge during high season, reported Xinhua.

Linked to the main building through automated trains, the new satellite airport terminal (SAT-1) with 28 contact gates will bring the airport's annual passenger handling capacity to 60 million from the current 45 million, according to Airports of Thailand Public Company Ltd (AOT).

With two airlines operating at SAT-1 during the launch, the facility is expected to see an increased number of flights and airlines when it reaches a full capacity of 15 million annual passengers by the end of this year, the AOT said in a statement. - BERNAMA-XINHUA