Just read Bangkok airport to open Sept. 29
 

Of this year! Could that be true?

Come on, Gloria - at least tell us your source - I can't believe that it is true.

I read some posts on flyertalk that said the airport will "officially" open this month when the prime minister lands a plane there. That is all that is really happening, though. Supposedly, the airport is pretty much built, but they have to go through about 6-8 months of testing and such before the airport will open to flights. After this innagural flight, they are supposedly going to announce what the official opening date is. Speculation says anywhere from June to September of next year.

Also, it will probably be a few years before the train to the airport is up and running.

On a related note, they are talking about having the major carriers fly in and out of the new airport with charters and the budget airlines flying out of the old airport. They are already talking about the headaches that will come from people flying in internationally and then having to get to the other airport for the budget in-country flights.

i am nominating gloria as the fodors rep to be aboard the PM's first arrival plane....think of the people watching....maybe even the king???

I hope if flies over me!

Opening in advance of actual opening is not strange, so many times anything from a building to the launching of a ship is ahead of public opening. It is going to be great once done.

I heard that, from the air, it is going to look like a giant orchid. How cool!

Also - I should revise my earlier post. Two planes will be landing - the one with the PM and a separate press plane. I am sure that the second plane will spur quite a bit of media coverage (and more rumors to go with it).

Additionally, no major carrier has signed on to fly their planes into the new airport yet. Of course, this could just be a rumor!

I know this is probabaly somewhere on the forum but where is the new airport located?
J

? anyone

this is a good artical about the airport and all the mess it's been threw already..

http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-08-22-voa30.cfm

heres a map of where it is located

http://www.bangkoksite.com/NewAirport/Suvarnabhumi1.htm

Jules,

The new airport is East of Bangkok and the best access route is via the Bangkok - Chonburi Motorway.

Thanks guys. Looks like it is further from down town than DM. How much more time will it take to get to downtown or is there better road access that may compensate for the increased distance?
J

The official word came out from the transportation secretary today - it will open between June and October of 2006, depending on inspections.

I am going in June. I would love to see it. I have a feeling that it will not be open in June, though.

i believe the new airport is 45 kilometers from downtown sort of in the direction of pattaya...