The Airports of Thailand (AoT) is initiating the soft launch of the Satellite 1 (SAT-1) terminal at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on September 28 following an earlier system evaluation.
Suvarnabhumi director Kittipong Kittikachorn stated that the airport conducted a full-scale trial involving 180 mock passengers and their luggage to assess the functionalities of both the SAT-1 satellite passenger terminal and the main terminal.
The experiment received support from Thai Airways, which supplied its cabin crew and aircraft for the endeavor.
Furthermore, the exercise was closely monitored by several agencies including Immigration Division 2, the Cargo Clearance Customs Bureau, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, and Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services, reported Mr. Kittipong.
He remarked that the trial encompassed a wide-ranging operation addressing aircraft, incoming and outgoing travelers, transit passengers, baggage handling systems, and freight handling
Mr. Kittipong announced that the next two trials are set for Tuesday, coordinated by Thai AirAsia X and Worldwide Flight Services Bangkok Air Ground Handling Co Ltd, and on September 20 by Thai Vietjet, primarily for passengers on evening flights.
Throughout the introductory phase spanning from September 28 to October 28, the SAT-1 terminal will welcome flights from three carriers: Thai AirAsia X, VietJet Air, and Emirates.
The facility is projected to commence full-scale operations by December, aiming to alleviate overcrowding at the central terminal.
The SAT-1 aims to accommodate 15 million travelers annually, enabling Suvarnabhumi Airport to manage a maximum of 60 million each year, reflecting a 33% increase, Mr Kittipong elucidated.
The SAT-1 terminal boasts 28 contact gates, with eight tailored to host Code F aircraft (the double-decker A380 superjumbo jets) and an additional 20 for Code E aircraft (Boeing B747s).
The terminal, encompassing four floors, spans a total area of 216,000 square metres and features two basement levels that accommodate the Automated People Mover (APM) train system along with other infrastructure.
The APM train network will connect the SAT-1 with the existing passenger terminal. Capable of speeds up to 80kph, it has the capacity to transport 210 passengers per journey, equating to roughly 6,000 passengers per hour, he stated, noting that each journey lasts three minutes.
With the inauguration of the SAT-1, international visitors will enjoy the convenience of bypassing the shuttle buses to reach their respective gates.
