Wednesday 23 December 2009

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

It's Bangkok's new international airport, also known as (New) Bangkok International Airport and is located in Racha Thewa in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province, about 25 km east of downtown Bangkok. The name Suvarnabhumi was chosen by King Bhumibol Adulyadej and refers to the golden kingdom hypothesized to have been located somewhere in Southeast Asia.



It's an abstract looking building with lots of glass and to me it looks fine. I loved the old airport, Don Muang, since leaving the planes there always meant arriving in Bangkok coming from the Netherlands. The intense heat accompanying you to the gate was a feeling I won't ever forget, it always felt like coming home. With Suvarnabhumi it's different, I only used this airport for domestic flights and now Samui airport feels like coming home since the last 11 years.


Right now there's a new rail link between the city and the airport, which apparently is open now for test runs but should officially open around April 2010 which in real live most likely will see an opening somewhere mid to late 2010. TIT or This is Thailand.


The inside of the airport is rather efficient, in my opinion. At the departure car lanes it's very well indicated where your flight carrier has it's check in rows and from leaving the car to entering the check in row can be a matter of just minutes if you get out at the right gate.


So far I enjoyed using Suvarnabhumi airport, despite the big controversy which surrounded the opening but I guess problems arise which each newly opened airport, see Charles de Gaulle in Paris and the extension of Heathrow in London.


If you're there, you may want to check out this location, at the passport control, where Paris' clock is conveniently located in Africa.

Safe travels.

Camille

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