Don Mueang International Airport

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For the military use of the facility, see Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base.

Don Mueang International Airport

ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง
Bangkok - International (Don Muang) (DMK - VTBD) AN2196231.jpg
Summary
Airport typeMilitary / Public
OwnerRoyal Thai Air Force
OperatorAirports of Thailand PCL (AOT)
ServesBangkok Metropolitan Region
Location222 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Sanam Bin Subdistrict, Don Mueang, Bangkok
Opened27 March 1914 (107 years ago) (1914-03-27)
Focus city for
  • Nok Air
  • Thai AirAsia
  • Thai AirAsia X
  • Thai Lion Air
Elevation AMSL9 ft / 3 m
Coordinates13°54′45″N 100°36′24″E / 13.91250°N 100.60667°E / 13.91250; 100.60667Coordinates: 13°54′45″N 100°36′24″E / 13.91250°N 100.60667°E / 13.91250; 100.60667
Websitedonmueang.airportthai.co.th
Maps
Bangkok in Thailand
Bangkok in Thailand
DMK/VTBD is located in Bangkok
DMK/VTBD
DMK/VTBD
Location of airport in Bangkok
Location of Bangkok in Thailand
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
03L/21R 3,700 12,139 Asphalt concrete
03R/21L 3,500 11,483 Asphalt concrete
Statistics (2018)
Total passengers40,758,148 Increase6.4%
International passengers15,978,892 Increase11.3%
Domestic passengers24,779,256 Increase3.5%
Aircraft movements272,361 Increase6.1%
Freight (tonnes)55,250 Decrease50.18%
Sources: Airport[1]

Don Mueang International Airport (Thai: ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง, pronounced [tʰâː.ʔāː.kàːt̚.sā.jāːn.dɔ̄ːn.mɯ̄a̯ŋ] (About this soundlisten), or colloquially as สนามบินดอนเมือง, pronounced [sā.nǎːm.bīn.dɔ̄ːn.mɯ̄a̯ŋ]) (IATA: DMK, ICAO: VTBD) is one of two international airports serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, the other one being Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Before Suvarnabhumi opened in 2006, Don Mueang was previously known as Bangkok International Airport.

The airport is considered to be one of the world's oldest international airports and Asia's oldest operating airport.[2] It was officially opened as a Royal Thai Air Force base on 27 March 1914, although it had been in use earlier. Commercial flights began in 1924, making it one of the world's oldest commercial airports. The first commercial flight was an arrival by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.[3]

In September 2006, Don Mueang Airport was closed and replaced by the newly opened Suvarnabhumi Airport,[4] before reopening on 24 March 2007 after renovations. Since the opening of the new airport, it has become a regional commuter flight hub and the de facto low-cost airline hub. In 2015, it became the world's largest low cost carrier airport.[5]

Don Mueang previously carried the BKK IATA code, which subsequently transferred to Suvarnabhumi, and was an important hub of Asia and the hub of Thai Airways International prior to its closure. At its peak, it served most[clarification needed] air traffic for the entire country, with 80 airlines operating 160,000 flights and handling over 38 million passengers and 700,000 tons of cargo in 2004. It was then the 14th busiest airport in the world and 2nd in Asia by passenger volume. Currently, Don Mueang is the main hub for Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air.

History[]

Early years[]

FAA diagram

"Don Mueang" airfield was the second established in Thailand, after Sa Pathum airfield, which is now Sa Pathum horse racing course, known as the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. The first flights to Don Mueang were made on 8 March 1914 and involved the transfer of aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force. Three years earlier, Thailand had sent three army officers to France to train as pilots. On completion of their training in 1911, the pilots were authorized to purchase eight aircraft, four Breguets and four Nieuports, which formed the basis of the Royal Thai Air Force. Sa Pathum airfield was established in February 1911 with an arrival by Orville Wright, seven years after the invention of the first airplane by the Wright brothers on 17 December 1903.[6]

In 1933, the airfield was the scene of heavy fighting between royalists and government forces during the Boworadet Rebellion. The airfield was used by the occupying Japanese during World War II, and was bombed and strafed by Allied aircraft on several occasions.

After the war had finished in September 1945, the airfield was occupied by the RAF during the brief British occupation of Thailand until March 1946 when 211 Squadron, which moved there in October 1945, was disbanded.[7]

During the Vietnam War, Don Mueang was a major command and logistics hub of the United States Air Force.[citation needed]

Before the opening of Suvarnabhumi, the airport used the IATA airport code BKK and the name was spelled "Don Muang". After Suvarnabhumi opened for commercial flights, the spelling was changed and as "Don Mueang" it now uses the airport code DMK, though it still retains the ICAO airport code VTBD. The traditional spelling is still used by many airlines and by most Thais.

Closure[]

The night of 27–28 September 2006 was the official end of operations at Don Mueang airport. The last commercial flights were:

  • International departure: Although scheduled for Kuwait Airways KU414 to Kuwait at 02:50,[8] Qantas flight QF302 to Sydney, originally scheduled for 18:00, was delayed for more than nine hours before finally taking off at 03:12, about ten minutes after the Kuwait flight. Qantas claimed that QF302 was an extra flight.[9]
  • International arrival: Kuwait Airways from Jakarta at 01:30[10]
  • Domestic departure: Thai Airways TG124 to Chiang Mai at 22:15 (coincidentally, when Thai moved domestic operations back to Don Mueang again on 28 March 2009, their last departure was also a 22:15 flight to Chiang Mai)
  • Domestic arrival: TG216 from Phuket at 23:00

Reopening[]

Aerial photo of DMK at Night

Commercial carriers deserted Don Mueang at the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport. But the higher operating costs of the new airport and safety concerns over cracked runways at the new airport caused many to seek a return to Don Mueang. Low-cost airlines led demands for a reopening of the airport. Airports of Thailand released a report at the end of 2006 which furthered this effort. The report proposed reopening DMK as a way to avoid or delay second-stage expansion which had been planned for Suvarnabhumi.[11]

On 30 January 2007, the Ministry of Transport recommended temporarily reopening Don Mueang while touch up work proceeded on some taxiways at Suvarnabhumi.[12] The recommendation was subject to approval by the Thai cabinet. On 25 March 2007, the airport officially reopened for some domestic flights.

Because of the 2011 Thailand floods that affected Bangkok and other parts of Thailand, the airport was closed as flood waters flowed onto the runways and affected the lighting.[13][14] Don Mueang reopened on 6 March 2012.

On 16 March 2012, the Government of Thailand and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered all low-cost, chartered, and non-connecting flights to relocate to Don Mueang. This ended the single-airport policy.[15] Airports of Thailand was ordered to encourage low-cost carriers to shift to Don Mueang to help ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi Airport.[16][17] Suvarnabhumi airport was designed to handle 45 million passengers per year,[16] but it processed 48 million in 2011 and the number was expected to reach 53 million in 2012. Some ten airlines may relocate to Don Mueang. Budget airline Nok Air is already serving flights from and to Don Mueang. Nok Air handles about four million passengers per year. Orient Thai Airlines and Thai AirAsia have also started operations at Don Mueang. Thai AirAsia carried 7.2 million passengers in 2011. The number is projected to grow to eight million in 2012.[18]

Expansion[]

Currently, Terminal 1 is capable of handling 18.5 million passengers annually.[19] On 7 September 2013, Airports of Thailand announced its three billion baht renovation to reopen Terminal 2 as early as May 2014. Terminal 1's passengers in 2013 will likely reach 16 million against its capacity of 18.5 million. Completion of Terminal 2 in December 2015 increases Don Mueang's passenger capacity to 30 million a year.[20]

The third phase of Don Mueang's 38 billion baht expansion will stretch from 2018 to 2024.[21] It aims to increase the airport's passenger capacity to 48 million per year from its 38 million passengers in 2017. The new 155,000 m2 (1,670,000 sq ft) international Terminal 3 will accommodate 18 million passengers a year by 2022.[21]

Terminals[]

Don Mueang International Airport has three terminals. Terminal 1 is used for international flights and Terminal 2 for domestic flights. The opening of Terminal 2 has raised the airport's capacity to 30 million passengers per year.[22] Terminal 3, the old domestic terminal, is not in use anymore. In a third phase of airport expansion, a new Terminal 3 is in the planning stages as of 2019, with construction projected to begin sometime between 2020–2025. The new terminal will have a capacity of 18 million passengers yearly. As part of the 39 billion baht project, Terminals 1 and 2 will be upgraded to handle 22 million domestic passengers annually, raising overall airport capacity from 30 to 40 million annually.[23]

Airlines and destinations[]

Current[]

AirlinesDestinations
AirAsia Johor Bahru,[24] Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur–International
Batik Air Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta
Indonesia AirAsia Denpasar/Bali, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, Medan
Malindo Air Kuala Lumpur–International
Nok Air Buriram, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chumphon, Guwahati,[25] Hat Yai, Hefei, Hiroshima, Ho Chi Minh City, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Lampang, Loei, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sot, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Nantong, Phetchabun,[26] Phitsanulok, Phrae, Phuket, Ranong, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Surat Thani, Trang, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Yancheng,[27] Yangon, Zhengzhou
Seasonal: Nanjing
Philippines AirAsia Manila
Scoot Osaka–Kansai, Singapore, Tokyo–Narita
Thai AirAsia Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Buriram, Can Tho, Changsha, Chengdu–Shuangliu, Chennai, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chongqing, Chumphon, Colombo–Bandaranaike,[28] Da Nang, Denpasar/Bali, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hanoi, Hat Yai, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Huangshan, Jaipur, Jieyang,[29] Johor Bahru,[30][31] Khon Kaen, Kochi, Kolkata, Krabi, Kuala Lumpur–International, Kunming, Loei, Luang Prabang, Macau, Malé, Mandalay, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Nanjing, Narathiwat, Nha Trang, Penang, Phitsanulok, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Quanzhou, Ranong, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Sanya, Shenzhen, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Singapore, Surat Thani, Trang, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Varanasi,[32] Vientiane, Wuhan, Xi'an, Yangon
Seasonal: Gaya, Ningbo
Thai AirAsia X Fukuoka, Nagoya–Centrair, Nanchang, Osaka–Kansai, Sapporo–Chitose, Seoul–Incheon, Shanghai–Pudong, Shenyang, Tianjin, Tokyo–Narita
Thai Lion Air Changsha, Changzhou, Chengdu–Shuangliu, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chongqing, Colombo–Bandaranaike, Denpasar/Bali, Dhaka, Fukuoka,[33] Guangzhou, Haikou,[34] Hangzhou, Hanoi, Hat Yai, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, Jinan, Kathmandu, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Kunming, Manado, Mumbai, Nagoya–Centrair,[33] Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nanchang, Nanjing, Ningbo, Osaka–Kansai, Phitsanulok, Phuket, Shanghai–Pudong, Shenzhen, Singapore, Surat Thani, Taipei–Taoyuan, Tianjin, Tokyo–Narita, Trang, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Wuhan, Xi'an, Yangon, Zhengzhou
Charter: Taiyuan, Xuzhou[35]
Tigerair Taiwan Taipei–Taoyuan

Former Airlines and Destinations[]

Before Suvarnabhumi Airport opened on September 2006, other major airlines including Thai Airways operated back in 1980s.

Historical[36][37][38][]

AirlinesDestinations
Aeroflot Bombay, Delhi, Moscow–Sheremetyevo
Air Astana Almaty
Air China Beijing–Capital
Air France Bombay, Delhi, Hanoi, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Karachi, Manila, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Paris–Orly, Saigon, Singapore
Air India Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Tokyo–Narita
Air Koryo Macau, Pyongyang
Air Lanka Colombo–Bandaranaike, Hong Kong/Kai Tak
Air Macau Macau
Air New Zealand Auckland, Brisbane, Singapore, Sydney
Alitalia Delhi, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Manila, Melbourne, Milan–Malpensa, Rome–Fiumicino, Singapore
All Nippon Airways Delhi, Kuala Lumpur/Subang, Osaka–Kansai, Tokyo–Narita
Air Vietnam Hanoi, Saigon
AOM French Airlines[39] Nouméa, Paris–Orly
Asiana Airlines Seoul–Kimpo, Singapore
Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Sofia
Bangkok Airways Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Ranong, Sukhothai
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur/Subang, Rangoon, Singapore
British Airways Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Delhi, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Kuala Lumpur/Subang, London–Heathrow, Sydney
CAAC Airlines Beijing–Capital, Guangzhou–Old, Kunming
Canadian Airlines Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Vancouver
Canadian Pacific Air Lines Beijing–Capital, Vancouver
Cathay Pacific Bombay, Colombo–Bandaranaike, Hong Kong/Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Singapore
China Airlines Amsterdam, Dhahran, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Kaohsiung, Singapore, Taipei–Songshan, Taipei–Taoyuan
China Eastern Airlines Shanghai–Hongqiao, Shanghai–Pudong
China Southern Airlines Guangzhou–New, Guangzhou–Old, Kunming, Shantou, Shenzhen
China Yunnan Airlines Kunming
Condor Frankfurt, Sharjah
Czech Airlines Bahrain, Bombay, Prague, Singapore
Dragonair Hong Kong/Chek Lap Kok
Delta Air Lines[40] Portland (OR), Seoul–Kimpo, Taipei–Taoyuan
Druk Air Calcutta, Dhaka
EgyptAir Cairo, Manila
El Al Bombay, Delhi, Tel Aviv
Emirates Dubai–International
Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa, Bombay
EVA Air London–Heathrow, Taipei–Taoyuan, Vienna
Finnair Helsinki
Garuda Indonesia Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Denpasar/Bali, Frankfurt, Jakarta–Kemayoran, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, London–Gatwick, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Rome–Fiumicino, Singapore,
Gulf Air Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Muscat
Indian Airlines Calcutta, Madras
Iraqi Airways Baghdad
JALways Osaka–Kansai
Japan Airlines Abu Dhabi, Delhi, Fukuoka, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Karachi, Kuwait, Nagoya–Komaki, Tokyo–Haneda, Tokyo–Narita
KLM Amsterdam, Dubai–International, Kuala Lumpur/Subang, Kuwait, Manila, Singapore, Taipei–Taoyuan
Korean Air Bombay, Phuket, Seoul–Incheon, Seoul–Kimpo, Singapore, Taipei–Taoyuan
Kuwait Airways Kuwait
Lao Airlines Vientiane
Lauda Air Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Sydney, Vienna
LOT Polish Airlines Tashkent, Warsaw–Chopin
LTU International Munich/Freising
Lufthansa Bombay, Delhi, Denpasar/Bali, Frankfurt, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur/Sepang, Kuala Lumpur/Subang, Melbourne, Manila, Munich/Freising, Munich/Riem, Singapore
Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur/Sepang, Kuala Lumpur/Subang, Penang
Malév Hungarian Airlines Budapest
Myanmar Airways International Rangoon
Northwest Airlines Tokyo–Narita
Olympic Airways Athens/Ellinikon, Melbourne, Sydney
Pakistan International Airlines Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Manila, Rangoon, Singapore
Pan Am Bombay, Delhi, Honolulu, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, San Francisco, Tokyo-Haneda, Tokyo-Narita
Philippine Airlines Dubai–International, Frankfurt, Karachi, Manila
Qantas Athens/Ellinikon, Bahrain, Brisbane, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, London–Heathrow, Melbourne, Perth, Rome–Fiumicino, Singapore, Sydney
Qatar Airways Colombo–Bandaranaike, Dhaka, Doha, Manila
Royal Air Cambodge Phnom Penh
Royal Brunei Airlines Abu Dhabi, Bandar Seri Begawan, Dubai–International
Royal Jordanian Amman, Calcutta
Royal Nepal Airlines Kathmandu, Rangoon, Singapore
Sabena Bombay, Brussels, Dubai–International, Kuala Lumpur/Subang
Saudi Arabian Airlines Dhahran, Jeddah, Riyadh, Singapore
Scandinavian Airlines Copenhagen, Singapore, Stockholm–Arlanda
Singapore Airlines Amsterdam, Bahrain, Cairo, Frankfurt, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Rome–Fiumicino, Singapore
South African Airways Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Johannesburg–O. R. Tambo
Swissair Athens/Ellinikon, Bombay, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Karachi, Manila, Singapore, Taipei–Taoyuan, Tokyo–Narita, Zürich
TAROM Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Bucharest
Thai Airways Company Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Phitsanulok, Phuket, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Vientiane
Thai International Amsterdam, Athens/Ellinikon, Athens/Spata, Auckland, Bandar Seri Begawan, Beijing–Capital, Cairns, Calcutta, Cairo, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Colombo–Bandaranaike, Copenhagen, Dallas–Fort Worth, Delhi, Denpasar/Bali, Dhahran, Dhaka, Dubai–International, Frankfurt, Fukuoka, Guangzhou–New, Guangzhou–Old, Hanoi, Hat Yai, Hong Kong/Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Istanbul–Atatürk, Jakarta–Kemayoran, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, Kaohsiung, Karachi, Kathmandu, Khon Kaen, Kuala Lumpur/Sepang, Kuala Lumpur/Subang, Kunming, Kuwait, Lahore, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, Madrid, Manila, Melbourne, Nagoya–Centrair, Nagoya–Komaki, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, New York–JFK, Osaka–Itami, Osaka–Kansai, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Penang, Perth, Phitsanulok, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Rangoon, Riyadh, Rome–Fiumicino, Saigon, Sakon Nakhon, Seattle–Tacoma, Seoul–Incheon, Seoul–Kimpo, Shanghai–Hongqiao, Shanghai–Pudong, Singapore, Stockholm–Arlanda, Surat Thani, Sydney, Taipei–Songshan, Taipei–Taoyuan, Tokyo–Haneda, Tokyo–Narita, Toronto–Pearson, Trang, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Vientiane, Zürich
Turkish Airlines Istanbul–Atatürk, Singapore
United Airlines Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Los Angeles, Tokyo–Narita
Uzbekistan Airways Tashkent
Varig Hong Kong/Kai Tak, Johannesburg–O. R. Tambo, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, São Paulo–Guarulhos
Vietnam Airlines Hanoi, Saigon
Yugoslav Airlines Belgrade, Dubai–International

Traffic statistics[]

In 2019, the airport reached its full capacity of 52 flights per hour, or about 700–800 flights per day. By the end of 2019, it is expected to top its maximum passenger handling capacity of 40 million. Airport manager AoT forecasts 41 million passengers in 2020 and 45 million by 2023. The airport was designed to serve a maximum of 30 million passengers annually. Building additional runways is not possible. AoT is encouraging airlines to use wide-body aircraft at Don Mueang to increase passenger loads from 100–200 passengers to about 300 per aircraft.[23]

Passenger figures[]

A Thai Lion Air Boeing 737-900ER bound for Hat Yai.
Thai Airways aircraft at the airport before their relocation to Suvarnabhumi Airport
Roads and bridges in front of the domestic terminal
Arrival Corridor in Domestic Arrival
Terminal 2 of Don Muang International Airport
Terminal 2 in 2016

Total passenger traffic through Don Mueang jumped 40.7 percent to 30.3 million in 2015, with international numbers rising 53.1 percent to 9.17 million and domestic passengers increasing 35.9 percent to 21.1 million. Aircraft movements rose by 29.8 percent to 224,074, including 158,804 domestic (up 26.2 percent) and 65,270 international (up 39.3 percent).[41]

Calendar year Passengers Change from the previous Movements Cargo
(tons)
2008 5,043,235 – – –
2009 2,466,997 Decrease051.1% – –
2010 2,999,867 Increase021.6% – –
2011 3,424,915 Increase014.2% 51,301 –
2012 5,983,141 Increase074.7% 65,120 7,329
2013 16,479,227 Increase0472.70% 154,827 25,657
2014 21,546,568 Increase030.75% 172,681 29,086
2015 30,304,183 Increase029.76% 224,074 45,488
2016 35,203,757 Increase016.17% 244,296 55,119
2017 38,299,757 Increase08.8% 256,760 67,777
2018 40,758,148 Increase06.4% 272,361 55,250
2019 41,313,439 Increase01.36% 272,363 43,586
Source: Airports of Thailand PLC


See source Wikidata query and sources.


Year Domestic International Total Change%
2008 5,043,235 5,043,235 Increase 0.46
2009 2,466,997 2,466,997 Decrease 51.1%
2010 2,999,867 2,999,867 Increase 21.6%
2011 3,424,915 3,424,915 Increase 14.2%
2012 5,983,141 Increase 74.7%
2013 11,190,783 5,288,444 16,479,227 Increase 472.70%
2014 15,556,627 5,989,941 21,546,568 Increase 30.75%
2015 21,133,502 9,170,681 30,304,183 Increase 29.76%
2016 22,933,491 11,756,398 35,203,757 Increase 21.34%
2017 23,942,371 14,357,386 38,299,757 Increase 8.8%
2018 24,779,256 15,978,892 40,758,148 Increase 6.4%
2019 23,456,123 17,857,316 41,33,439 Increase 1.36%

Busiest domestic routes 2019[]

Busiest domestic routes to and from Don Mueang Airport 2019[42]
Rank Airport Passengers Handled 2019 %Change
1 Chiang Mai 3,564,487 Increase 0.34%
2 Phuket 3,016,280 Decrease 9.76%
3 Hat Yai 2,574,739 Decrease 9.27%
4 Udon Thani 1,656,430 Decrease 6.60%
5 Chiang Rai 1,549,745 Decrease 4.20%

Busiest international routes 2019[]

Busiest international routes to and from Don Mueang Airport 2019[42]
Rank Airport Passengers 2019 % Change
1 Kuala Lumpur 1,339,182 Decrease5.47%
2 Tokyo–Narita 1,279,186 Increase34.05%
3 Singapore 1,071,336 Decrease3.86%
4 Yangon 790,496 Decrease2.35%
5 Osaka–Kansai 662,318 Increase46.83%
6 Seoul-Incheon 643,606 Increase13.88%
7 Jakarta–Soekarno–Hatta 585,981 Increase13.63%
8 Taipei–Taoyuan 551,848 Increase25.05%
9 Ho Chi Minh City 510,873 Decrease8.67%
10 Nanjing 440,051 Increase6.00%

Other facilities[]

  • The following companies have head offices on the airport property: Siam Air[43] and R Airlines[44]
  • Don Mueang International Airport is a joint-use facility, shared with the Royal Thai Air Force's (RTAF) Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base, and is the home of the RTAF 1st Air Division, which consists primarily of non-combat aircraft.
  • A RTAF golf course is located between the two runways. The course has no separation from the runway, and golfers are held back by a red light whenever planes land.

Accidents and incidents[]

  • On 25 December 1976 – EgyptAir Flight 864, a Boeing 707-300 bound for Bangkok from Cairo, crashed into an industrial area near the airport during a landing attempt. All 53 aboard were killed.
  • On 27 April 1980 – Thai Airways Flight 231, a BAe 748 which was en route from Khon Kaen to Bangkok, lost altitude during a thunderstorm and crashed about 13 km from Bangkok International Airport. All four crew members and 40 of the 49 passengers were killed.
  • On 1 April 1981 – Indonesian Special Forces (Kopassus) raided hijacked Garuda Indonesia Flight 206 which was en route from Palembang to Polonia Airport (hijacked in Indonesian airspace). All 48 passengers safe, seven fatalities (one commando, one co-pilot, five terrorists). Imran bin Muhammad Zein, hijacker leader, captured.
  • On 9 September 1988 – Vietnam Airlines Flight 831 crashed while on approach to Don Mueang International Airport. 76 of the 90 passengers and crew on board were killed.
  • On 26 May 1991 – Lauda Air Flight 004, which was headed to Wien-Schwechat International Airport in Vienna, suffered an in-flight deployment of the thrust reverser on the No. 1 engine after taking off from Don Mueang. There were no survivors from the 213 passengers and 10 crew.
  • On 21 January 1992 – Douglas VC-47D L2-41/15/210 of the Royal Thai Air Force was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident.[45]
  • On 23 September 1999 – Qantas Flight 1, in what was then the most serious incident in the airline's famously safe jet aircraft history, a Boeing 747-400 overshot the runway causing significant damage but no casualties.
  • On 3 March 2001 – Thai Airways International Flight 114, a Thai Airways International Boeing 737-400 (HS-TDC), bound for Chiang Mai from Bangkok, was destroyed by an explosion and fire that occurred about 35 minutes before Thaksin Shinawatra, later to become Prime Minister of Thailand, and about 150 other passengers were to board. Five members of the cabin crew were aboard, and one was killed. Witnesses said they heard an explosion before flames erupted aboard the aircraft. Subsequently, NTSB investigators reported that the central fuel tank had exploded followed by the right tank 18 minutes later. The cause for the explosion was unclear, though some speculate it was an assassination attempt based on chemicals found during the subsequent investigation.

Ground transportation[]

Bus station at Don Mueang Airport in 2019

Transfer to/from Suvarnabhumi Airport[]

Don Mueang International Airport is approximately 1–1.5 hours from Suvarnabhumi Airport by rail or bus. There are also direct buses between the airports operated by Airport Shuttle Bus.

Road[]

The airport has two main access routes. Among these the most convenient route is via the Don Mueang Tollway. Another main airport entrance is Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Four bus routes service the airport. The bus #A1 runs between the airport and the nearest BTS Station, Mochit Station. #A2 runs between the airport and Victory Monument. #A3 runs between the airport and Lumphini Park. #A4 runs between the airport and Sanam Luang.[citation needed]

Rail[]

Don Mueang International Airport is served by the SRT Dark Red Line and Airport Rail Link at Don Mueang Station that connected with Bang Sue Grand Station, it will open in 2021.

AOT plans to build a three-kilometre monorail to link the airport with the BTS Green Line. Approval of the three billion baht project is expected by the end of 2020.[23]

References[]

  1. ^ "Air transport statistic 2016 summary" (PDF). Airports of Thailand PLC (AoT). 23 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Midnight Initiation for Suvarnabhumi". Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "돈므앙 국제공항" (in Korean). Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Bangkok Don Mueang becomes world's largest LCC airport, overtaking KLIA, Barcelona & Las Vegas". Centre for Aviation. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. and their Aircraft, Philip Moyes , 1964, Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., London, p. 200
  8. ^ "Exporters pan new export fees". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Qantas steals show at last minute" Archived 9 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Bangkok Post, 29 September 2006
  10. ^ "ATW: LH Cargo set to be first into Suvarnabhumi". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2006.
  11. ^ "In With the Old", Aviation Week & Space Technology, 1 January 2007.
  12. ^ "Use Don Muang during repairs: 2 airlines". www.pressreader.com. The Nation. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  13. ^ Don Muang Airport (DMK) Bangkok Thailand | Don Muang Airport Guide. Donmuangairportonline.com. Retrieved on 25 August 2013.
  14. ^ "Thai floods: Bangkok Don Muang airport suspends flights". BBC News. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Low-cost carriers start launching from Don Mueang". The Nation. Bangkok. 1 October 2012.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b Thongrung, Watcharapong; Amnartchareonrit, Bamrung (16 March 2012). "Budget airlines to fly from Don Mueang". The Nation. Bangkok.
  17. ^ Mahitthirook, Amornrat; Kositchotethana, Boonsong (21 June 2012). "Airlines get big discounts for move to Don Mueang". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
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