BANGKOK, Thailand – Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd. (AEROTHAI) is preparing a comprehensive air traffic management plan to support the future operation of Suvarnabhumi Airport’s fourth runway, aiming to strengthen Thailand’s role as a regional aviation hub.
Surachai Nuprom, Deputy President and Acting President of AEROTHAI, said the organization has been studying new approaches to air traffic management to increase the country’s flight capacity. The focus is on adopting advanced technologies to improve efficiency and safety, while ensuring readiness for the long-term growth of the aviation industry.
As part of the preparations, AEROTHAI is studying air traffic and ground movement management systems in comparison with major international airports such as Incheon International Airport in South Korea and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in China. Both airports have physical layouts, locations, and operational characteristics similar to Suvarnabhumi, making them suitable benchmarks.
Currently, Suvarnabhumi Airport operates three runways and can handle up to 94 flights per hour, with an average of around 1,000 flights per day. Flight volumes continue to rise steadily. Under the Transport Ministry’s policy, the airport will be expanded to four runways, increasing capacity to approximately 134 flights per hour to accommodate future growth in air traffic and passenger numbers.
Surachai said AEROTHAI is now assessing multiple factors in preparation for the fourth runway, including geographic conditions, flight volumes, airspace and ground traffic density, aircraft taxi routes, and communication systems between pilots and air traffic controllers. The goal is to apply technologies suited to Thailand’s operational environment.
He added that the project marks a key step in enhancing Thailand’s air traffic management capability, strengthening safety and confidence among passengers and airlines, and generating long-term economic and social benefits while supporting the country’s ambition to become a leading aviation hub in the region. (TNA)
