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Airports

Bangkok is one of Asia's most important air transport hubs. In 2005, more than 90 airlines served Don Muang International Airport (IATA: DMK; ICAO: VTBD) and over 38,000,000 passengers, 160,000 flights and 700,000 tons of cargo were handled at this airport per year. It was the 18th busiest airport in the world and 2nd busiest in Asia by passenger volume and the 15th busiest in the world and 4th busiest Asia in international passenger volume. Don Muang consistently ranked 19th in the world in cargo traffic, and 7th in the Asia-Pacific region. Don Muang is considered to be one of the world's oldest international airports opening in March 1914, making it almost 20 years older than Heathrow. It has 3 terminals and is located about 30km north from the heart of Bangkok.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is now Bangkok's official international airport, replacing Don Muang. Pronounced Suwannaphum, or loosely Su-wan-na-poom, the airport is located southeast of the city center in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province.

Plane taxiing to gate at Suvarnabhumi International Airport Much of the construction of Suvarnabhumi Airport took place during the premiership of Thaksin Shinawatra, who took personal responsibility for its timely completion. Despite a ceremonial opening on the planned date, construction was over a year late. Continuing controversy surrounds the quality of planning and construction; accusations include cracks in the runway, overheated buildings, a severe shortage of toilet facilities and lengthy passenger walks to departure gates. The fact of the airport being overcrowded and near its maximum capacity is another concern. Its 2 parallel runways are connected by the 5 concourses of the main terminal building. The airport features a 132,2 meter-tall control tower, the tallest in the world and one meter taller than Kuala Lumpur International Airport control tower. The main airline of Suvarnabhumi is Thai Airways International, which has the most prestigious lounges in the airport.

Don Muang remains in use as a base of the Royal Thai Air Force. Thai Airways and most of the low-cost airlines now use the airport for domestic flights, in an effort to ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi, until the next terminal is opened.