WITH temperatures averaging between 32 and 36C over the UK winter period and nine sunshine hours a day, it’s little wonder Thailand is such a hit with sun-starved Brits.
For anyone lucky enough to head off to Thailand, you’ll probably head into Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Suvarnabhumi International Airport is the main airport serving Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, and is spread over 8,000 acres.
It’s also Thailand’s busiest airport and last year handled 62.2 million passengers – which was a 20 per cent increase from 2023.
Possibly the most memorable thing about it, is the huge statues in the terminal.
There are 12 Yaksha Statue in the ticket hall, which are replicas of those in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and protect the airport from evil spirits.
The ‘Churning of the Milk Ocean’ statue isn’t anything you’ll find in the likes of London Heathrow.
It’s a 21-metres-long serpent statue that depicts a modern interpretation of an ancient Hindu myth.
The airport currently has three runways and two terminals, a main terminal and a satellite terminal.
It sees around 950 flights per day, with an average of 348,980 a year.
This hugely increased after the opening of their third runway in November 2024 that allowed the airport to increase from 68 to 94 flights per hour.
And Suvarnabhumi International Airport will soon undergo undergo even more changes.
Dubbed their ‘masterplan’, the new work will take place over ten years, starting in 2025 with everything set to be complete in 2035.
The airport is set to expand in-line with demand and should be able to cope with 150 million passengers per year by 2033.
One part of their masterplan is building a new South Terminal, bigger than the one they have now.
With overcrowding a frequent problem in the high season, the construction of a new one on the south side of the airport should help.
The project has a huge estimated cost of 120 billion baht (£4billion) and will include state of the art facilities like new check-in zones, security systems as well as modern retail and dining areas.
Along with a brand-new terminal, there will also be the creation of a fourth runway.
This will cost 20 billion baht (£400,000) out of the budget and will be an important component to keep flights on time.
The plans are for the fourth runway to be in use by 2030.
The rest of the airport hasn’t been forgotten about either, with the original terminal being updated and more check-in desks and passenger processing areas added.
To address the increase in crowds, the plans also include additional parking and new designs that means traffic should flow freely outside the terminal.
For any fans of duty free, there will also be a shopping centre, and more dining options for people to enjoy before their flight.
So far, the project is in the design phase with construction set to begin in 2027.
These are the two airports in Asia with cycling paths and even a golf course between two runways.
It’s also been said that the Suvarnabhumi Airport is haunted with ‘ghosts’ walking across a gangway.
We Stayed In The White Lotus Four Seasons Hotel
Here's what we thought of the hotel that stars in the White Lotus TV series...
As the latest series kicks off in the stunning setting of the Four Seasons Hotel, Koh Samui, the real-life guests at the hotel could give them a run for their money.
After meeting staff at the exclusive 5-star resort where villas can cost up to £10,000 a night, it’s obvious superhuman levels of patience and ingenuity are needed to keep guests happy in paradise.
Manager Jasjit “JJ” Assi says he is very proud of the incredible feats his staff have accomplished to accommodate guests’ every whim.
One, frustrated he couldn’t land his large private jet at tiny Koh Samui airport, objected to taking a connecting flight from Bangkok as the airport lacks a business class lounge.
Staff volunteered to fetch the businessman from a nearby island via one of the resort’s luxury yachts but he refused to sail the hour-long journey, so in the end, they chartered a private helicopter that cost him £25,000. “That was insane,” says JJ, “but we made it happen for him.”
Another guest arrived at 10pm during a full moon and decided it would be a beautiful night for a proposal.
But he needed a diamond ring before his girlfriend arrived at the resort, an hour later.
JJ says: “Everything shuts at 8pm. The concierge team had to wake people up and find connections.” Miraculously, they did.
“Someone came at 11.15pm with a tray of diamond rings and we set up his proposal on the beach.”
She said yes, but JJ added: “I would have forced her to say yes! That’s the magic of the Four Seasons, we make it happen.” – Ashleigh Rainbird
