Popular Post reader Posted September 10 Popular Post Share Posted September 10 From The Thaiger Suvarnabhumi International Airport, governed by Airports of Thailand (AoT), is set to soft-launch its Satellite 1 (SAT-1) terminal on September 28, following a successful full-scale trial involving 180 mock passengers and their luggage. The trial aimed to evaluate operations at both the SAT-1 satellite passenger terminal and the primary terminal, with Thai Airways offering assistance by supplying cabin crew and aircraft for the process. Kittipong Kittikachorn, the Director of Suvarnabhumi, stated that the trial encompassed a comprehensive operation involving aircraft, incoming and outgoing passengers, transfer passengers, baggage handling systems, and cargo operations. The Immigration Division 2, the Cargo Clearance Customs Bureau, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand and Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services were also present to oversee the operations, he added. Kittipong also revealed that two additional trials are scheduled for the coming days, with Thai AirAsia X and Worldwide Flight Services Bangkok Air Ground Handling Co Ltd conducting one on Tuesday, and Thai Vietjet conducting another on September 20. The latter trial is specifically designed for departing passengers on night flights. The director further elaborated that between September 28 and October 28, the SAT-1 terminal will be open to three airlines: Thai AirAsia X, VietJet Air, and Emirates, during the soft-opening phase. The new terminal is projected to be fully operational by December this year, ultimately providing a solution to reduce congestion at the main terminal. The SAT-1 terminal, which has a capacity of handling 15 million passengers annually, will enable Suvarnabhumi Airport to cater to up to 60 million passengers a year, marking a significant 33% increase. The terminal boasts 28 contact gates, with eight specifically designed to accommodate Code F aircraft (the double-decker A380 superjumbo jets) and the remaining 20 for Code E aircraft (Boeing B747s). The terminal’s four-storey facility spans a total floor area of 216,000 square metres, with two underground floors dedicated to hosting the Automated People Mover (APM) train system and other systems. The APM train system, designed to connect the SAT-1 and the existing passenger terminal, can accommodate 210 passengers per train, or roughly 6,000 passengers per hour. Each trip on the train, which has a maximum speed of 80kph, takes a mere three minutes, Kittikachorn added. The commencement of the SAT-1 terminal will eliminate the need for international passengers to take shuttle buses to their gates, boosting convenience and efficiency, reports Bangkok Post. TMax, fedssocr, tm_nyc and 6 others 6 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post macaroni21 Posted September 10 Popular Post Share Posted September 10 Just a word of thanks to @reader for these news updates that are posted from time to time. They keep those of us outside Thailand updated on changes so we're not surprised when we do arrive in Thailand. One small thing about the above news story though: it says "providing a solution to reduce congestion at the main terminal"... But the worst congestion, when it happens, tends to happen at immigration. I don't suppose a satellite terminal does anything for that. khaolakguy, TMax, ichigo and 4 others 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithambrose Posted September 11 Share Posted September 11 Yes, and the scrum when you finally get through the customs area! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterRS Posted September 11 Share Posted September 11 On 9/10/2023 at 5:11 PM, reader said: From The Thaiger Suvarnabhumi International Airport, governed by Airports of Thailand (AoT), is set to soft-launch its Satellite 1 (SAT-1) terminal on September 28, following a successful full-scale trial involving 180 mock passengers and their luggage. AOT think 180 mock passengers is sufficient to see that all is working smoothly and to iron out any kinks? I remember before Hong Kong's new airport opened, they had 10,000 volunteers for a day of test runs. Everything was working perfectly we were told. Then the day the airport opened, it was absolute chaos. Flight information displays crashed. Even the underground train taking passengers in the evening from check in to the far gates suddenly stopped mid-way and slowly backed into a siding. It could then not be moved for 3 hours, resulting in hundreds missing flights. It took a week before all the problems were more or less sorted out. With SAT-1 being part of an existing airport, it is unlikely teething problems will be more than minor. But with 28 gates and a planned capacity of 15 million, something will go wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reader Posted September 11 Author Share Posted September 11 No doubt but more will go right. alvnv 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post vinapu Posted September 11 Popular Post Share Posted September 11 4 hours ago, PeterRS said: I remember before Hong Kong's new airport opened, they had 10,000 volunteers for a day of test runs. Everything was working perfectly we were told. Then the day the airport opened, it was absolute chaos. don't compare messy HongKong with Thailand which is known as Switzerland of Asia PeterRS, 10tazione, traveller123 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMax Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 On 9/10/2023 at 8:35 PM, macaroni21 said: But the worst congestion, when it happens, tends to happen at immigration. I don't suppose a satellite terminal does anything for that. And it appears to be that the governing powers haven't figured that one out yet, sometimes it takes forever for the penny to drop but I still think they may never figure out a solution to the immigration queues, the solution of which is pretty obvious to just about everyone else. alvnv 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterRS Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 10 hours ago, reader said: No doubt but more will go right. Hopefully more than 51% 😵 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithambrose Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 15 hours ago, PeterRS said: AOT think 180 mock passengers is sufficient to see that all is working smoothly and to iron out any kinks? I remember before Hong Kong's new airport opened, they had 10,000 volunteers for a day of test runs. Everything was working perfectly we were told. Then the day the airport opened, it was absolute chaos. Flight information displays crashed. Even the underground train taking passengers in the evening from check in to the far gates suddenly stopped mid-way and slowly backed into a siding. It could then not be moved for 3 hours, resulting in hundreds missing flights. It took a week before all the problems were more or less sorted out. With SAT-1 being part of an existing airport, it is unlikely teething problems will be more than minor. But with 28 gates and a planned capacity of 15 million, something will go wrong! Remember the chaos when they opened Terminal 5 at Heathrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reader Posted September 12 Author Share Posted September 12 6 hours ago, PeterRS said: Hopefully more than 51% 😵 Which I think will bring you great delight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterRS Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 3 hours ago, Keithambrose said: Remember the chaos when they opened Terminal 5 at Heathrow! Add to the list Denver and Kuala Lumpur! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinapu Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 lets wait for opening of new airport in Siem Reap and see how it'll go, specially part of commuting to and from there alvnv 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithambrose Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 I aim to be trying it in January! Wish me luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinapu Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 1 hour ago, Keithambrose said: I aim to be trying it in January! Wish me luck! I do. They plan to open new REP airport in October so by time you land we may hopefully have some reports here . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithambrose Posted September 15 Share Posted September 15 Yes, I am hoping I can get to my hotel on the same day that I land! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
