AoT President Anirut Thanomkulbutr explained that the first phase of the airport has a capacity of 45 million passengers per year. However, the total passenger count in 2011 soared past that figure to 48 million, while this year’s total is expected to top 50 million.
The second phase of Suvarnabhumi Airport, which will cost B62.5 billion, is scheduled to be completed by 2017, but even this will only expand capacity to 60 million, so that when it is completed, it will just keep up with the arriving hordes.
AoT recently signed a contract with EPM Consortium, which will be in charge of the management of the airport’s second phase, from 2012-2018.