Bangkok's primary international gateway serving Southeast Asia.
Opened
2006
Location
Bangkok, Thailand
Suvarnabhumi Airport is Thailand's main international airport, located approximately 25 kilometers east of central Bangkok. It opened in 2006, replacing Don Mueang as the country's primary hub, and quickly became one of the busiest airports in Asia by passenger volume.
The airport's name, meaning 'Golden Land' in Sanskrit, was chosen by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Its main terminal was designed by Helmut Jahn and features a striking modernist structure with a large central glass atrium. Suvarnabhumi regularly handles over 60 million passengers annually in pre-pandemic years.
The airport serves as the primary hub for Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways, and is a major connecting point for intercontinental and intra-Asian routes. A second terminal has been developed to expand overall capacity as passenger demand continues to grow.
Terminals
The airport has one main passenger terminal building plus a satellite terminal, with a second terminal (Terminal 2) opened in 2023 to expand capacity.
Getting to & from
The Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link connects the airport to central Bangkok's Phaya Thai station in approximately 30 minutes, supplemented by taxis, buses, and hotel shuttles.
Airlines here
Thai Airways International uses Suvarnabhumi as its primary hub, alongside Bangkok Airways, while numerous global carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific operate significant services here.
Notable facts
›The airport's main terminal, designed by Helmut Jahn, covers over 563,000 square meters.
›Suvarnabhumi features one of the world's tallest control towers, standing approximately 132.2 meters high.
›The airport was built on a site historically known as 'Cobra Swamp' (Nong Nguhao).
›King Bhumibol Adulyadej personally selected the airport's name, meaning 'Golden Land' in Sanskrit.
›Suvarnabhumi handled over 65 million passengers in 2019, making it one of Asia's busiest airports.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
•Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew — The dazzling royal compound and Emerald Buddha.
•Wat Pho — The 46-metre Reclining Buddha and birthplace of Thai massage.
•Wat Arun — The porcelain-studded Temple of Dawn across the river.
•Chatuchak Weekend Market — 15,000 stalls — the world's largest weekend market.
•Street food in Chinatown (Yaowarat) — Neon-lit woks and Michelin-listed noodle stalls.
Getting around: BTS Skytrain and MRT beat the traffic; the Airport Rail Link connects Suvarnabhumi. River express boats and tuk-tuks are experiences in themselves.
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Suvarnabhumi Airport is the main international airport serving Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. It is one of two airports serving Bangkok, the other being Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). Located mostly in Racha Thewa commune, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province, it covers an area of 3,520 ha, making it one of the biggest international airports in Southeast Asia, tenth biggest in the world and a regional hub for aviation. It has an Airport Rail Link, an Automated People Mover as well as being located close to Motorway 7.