Thailand’s neighbors compete for massive airport expansion

[reader]

From Pattaya Mail

By Barry Kenyon

An unprecedented boom in the construction of new airports and the refurbishment of existing ones are occurring across south east Asia. The aim is to enable passenger handling in the region to double to 653 million people by the end of the decade. Several countries are competing with each other in the rush to complete, a demand created significantly by the domestic demand from rising middle classes.
 

In Thailand, a satellite terminal opened at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport last month, potentially improving overall capacity by a third once a third runway opens next year. Expansion is also planned at Don Mueang airport, near Bangkok, and U-tapao airport near Rayong whose major expansion awaits the building of a fast-track rail network linking with Bangkok hubs. That railway is still at planning stage as problems persist with the purchase of land. The new Pheu Thai government is also supporting expansion of airports in Phuket, Chiang Mai and other regional centers.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is investing US$4 billion to increase capacity at Hanoi’s premier airport to 60 million people, more than twice the current limit. Cambodia has permitted Chinese companies to build new lease-operated airports near Siem Reap (recently opened) and Phnom Penh (optimistically scheduled for completion next year), though they are much further away from the urban centers and will increase passenger costs of travelling downtown by road. A plan to build an underground metro system in Phnom Penh has been delayed to prefer new air facilities. Malaysia and Singapore are both in process of doubling capacity, whilst the Philippines has no fewer than four expansion projects scattered around Manila, almost willy-nilly style.

Many of the region’s new airports will incorporate smart technology. For example, Singapore’s building of a new satellite terminal will be a series of sub-terminals to keep passengers separate and at less risk from covid contamination from other flights. Automatic checkins, which minimize contact between ground staff and passengers, are becoming common features and will become universal. With Thailand and Vietnam already operating visa-free travel from China, much of the expansion is expected to increase dramatically flight schedules to and from Chinese cities.

Critics point out that the future numbers game may be overblown as estimates are based on the current regional economic climate plus optimistic predictions by aircraft development corporations worldwide. Other variables are the future costs of flying, including tricky ones such as the price of aviation fuel and international political stability, which could throw predictions into disarray. But the countries of south east Asia are now in open competition for massively increased connectivity with air hubs serving both international tourism and economic investment.

[vinapu]

while welcomed I suspect some of those are governments vanity projects and on track of becoming white elephants. High speed railways are great but not on distances where regular , modernized track would do.  But I gladly take one from Don Muang to Pattaya just for sake of having fun.

Does Cambodia really need two enormous international airports when it takes 6 hours to go by rail from PP to Sukhanoukville or Battambong? Why not making it to 2 or 3 ? But it's certainly not a flashy. 

[PeterRS]

On 10/21/2023 at 11:08 AM, reader said:

From Pattaya Mail

By Barry Kenyon

Critics point out that the future numbers game may be overblown as estimates are based on the current regional economic climate plus optimistic predictions by aircraft development corporations worldwide. Other variables are the future costs of flying, including tricky ones such as the price of aviation fuel and international political stability, which could throw predictions into disarray.

These points raised by Barry Kenyon are certainly factors to be considered. On the other hand Singapore in 1970 had its civilian airport based at Paya Lebar. With passenger numbers increasing considerably, especially from the kangaroo route between the UK and Australia, in 1972 a British consultant's Report recommended the rapid expansion of Paya Lebar. But then passenger numbers declined with the soaring international price of oil. It was Lee Kwan Yew who reconised two things. First, with increasing birthrates, the island state would eventually need more land for housing. Second, he considered the huge hike in oil prices a temporary blip.

Lee determined that a new airport built on reclaimed land away from urban areas would make SIngapore ready to accommodate what he believed would be an eventual surge in air traffic. Paya Lebar was converted for military use and a start was made on Changi Airport. In its first year of operations with 1 terminal, it handled 12 million passengers. It now has 4 terminals, the more recent ones considered a marvel of airport terminal design being copied by others - notably recently at Doha. Handling capacity is now 85 million passengers. I suspect like Changi future estimates for the new Asian airports are not overblown, certainly in the longer term.

[Keithambrose]

I remember Paya Lebar, it had a slight dip, ie up and down, in the runway. Also I remember the hairdressers stationed at immigration to cut the hair of anyone whose hair was deemed too long. Damned hippies!

[reader]

The dips in runways are intentional to assist in acceleration and then rotation on takeoff.

On landing they ease touchdown and then assist braking on the incline.
 

Actually these dips are to help the aircraft rotate. 

During the takeoff roll, the aircraft accelerates. When it gets to the downward slope of the dip, it accelerates even quicker. And when it gets to the other side (upward), it helps the aircraft rotate and fly into the sky. 

[PeterRS]

16 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

I remember Paya Lebar, it had a slight dip, ie up and down, in the runway. Also I remember the hairdressers stationed at immigration to cut the hair of anyone whose hair was deemed too long. Damned hippies!

Do you recall that part of an expressway ran through the taxiway? So when aircraft were moving to or from the runway, the road had to be closed for a few minutes!

[Keithambrose]

18 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Do you recall that part of an expressway ran through the taxiway? So when aircraft were moving to or from the runway, the road had to be closed for a few minutes!

No, sorry!

 

I  used to enjoy looking at the golf course between the two runways at Don Muang, that I assume is still there. Reserved for the military, I was told. 

[Keithambrose]

On 10/22/2023 at 1:36 PM, reader said:

The dips in runways are intentional to assist in acceleration and then rotation on takeoff.

On landing they ease touchdown and then assist braking on the incline.
 

Actually these dips are to help the aircraft rotate. 

During the takeoff roll, the aircraft accelerates. When it gets to the downward slope of the dip, it accelerates even quicker. And when it gets to the other side (upward), it helps the aircraft rotate and fly into the sky. 

Sounds plausible, though I don't notice any modern runways built like that?