Thai Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra was among the 375 passengers on the first flight to land at Suvarnabhumi, after a symbolic 15-minute journey from Bangkok's Don Muang Airport. Despite delays and criticism, Mr. Taksin acknowledged worries among industry groups and assured that any remaining problems would be small and the new airport would be ready to safely handle commercial traffic by September 28 of this year.

After 40 years of delays, construction of Suvarnabhumi Airport began in January 2002 at a total project cost of THB120 billion (US$3.2 billion). Since then, a series of budget overruns, construction flaws and political interference has postponed its completion date several times. Last-minute finishing touches will be completed this month.

Located on an 8000 acre site, 30km east of Bangkok, the new airport is a long-awaited and much need replacement to the existing Don Muang airport, which after 90 years of operation is an old dame, overstretched and out-dated. Don Muang currently handles some 38.5 million passengers per year, that’s more than two million beyond its capacity. Suvarnabhumi will initially be able to handle 45 million passengers, with expansion plans for the future equipped to handle 100 million passengers by 2020.

The name Suvarnabhumi (pronounced “su-wan-na-poom”) was chosen by the King of Thailand and means “Golden Land”, referring to continental Indochina. Suvarnabhumi will adopt the airport code BKK, currently used by Don Muang airport, once the transfer is complete. It will have the tallest control tower in Asia at 132 metres, along with one of the biggest passenger terminals in the world.

In a country famous for its spas and massages, Suvarnabhumi will offer full spa treatments, comfortable day rooms and a four-star hotel, along with a balanced array of shops, restaurants, entertainment, and recreational areas, including a movie theatre and fitness centre.

"We would like this airport to be the hub of Asian travel, and we are turning the area into a new city," said an official from the airport's builders, the New Bangkok International Airport Company. A high-speed rail link into the city is scheduled to open in November 2007 and will link the new airport with at least two downtown Skytrain stations in just 15 minutes.

The Miracle Grand Hotel is investing THB300 million (US$7.9 million) on a day-room hotel, shops, snack bars, lounges and a beauty salon at the new airport. Their day-room hotel will serve as a welcomed relief for travellers with long layovers. The “Miracle by Louis’ Tavern” will have 80 rooms open 24 hours, located in the airport terminal, which passengers can use to rest and refresh for 1,000 baht (US$26) for six hours.

In addition, the 612-room Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel is located a mere five minutes walk from the airport, providing deluxe four-star accommodation with all the business and recreational facilities expected of a high-class hotel. Other conveniently located airport hotels are the Novotel Bangna and the Royal Princess Srinakarin Hotel, both of the three-star category and within five to ten minutes drive from the new airport.

The last Thai Airways commercial flight taking off from Don Muang airport is expected to be TG 662 to Shanghai, China. During the night, all airlines will move their operations from the old airport to the new. The first departure from Suvarnabhumi is expected to be TG008 at 06:30 to Uthai Thani, Thailand.

Asked if people should avoid those initial flights just to be on the safe side, Thai Airways Senior Executive Vice President, Kobchai Srivilas indicated that exactly the opposite was happening as many passengers wanted to be part of history by being on one of the first flights out of Suvarnabhumi. "What is important is to have Suvarnabhumi Airport begin commercial operations only when it is operationally ready," said Albert Tjoeng, spokesman for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 250 airlines.

Rest assured, while Thai authorities have put their seal of approval on the new airport, it will still have to achieve certification from the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) before opening. "Meeting international safety standards is crucial to the opening of Suvarnabhumi," said Captain Permsak Thongpaiboon, president of the Pilots Association of Thailand. "It needs a stamp (of approval) from ICAO," he said.

The President of the Airports of Thailand (AOT), Mr. Chotisak expressed confidence that a September 28 opening was realistic and achievable, although some officials are saying it could be delayed by three to six months. Meanwhile, Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways have initially agreed to make their first international test flights in and out of Suvarnabhumi on September 1, according to Mr. Chotisak.

Chaisak Angkasuwan, director of the Civil Aviation Department, which manages 26 airports, points out that Thailand has not had any major airport problems in the past. "We've all trusted for decades AOT's ability to manage safety at Don Muang, so there's no reason why we can't trust it to continue to do a good job at Suvarnabhumi."

One thing is for certain, the Land of Smiles wants people to enjoy themselves in the new airport. People can come with their friends, drink a cup of coffee together, chat, visit an Internet café, shop for fashionable clothes, and so on. With the high-speed rail link from downtown Bangkok, all this will be possible in the near future. So it’s not just passengers the new airport will cater for, but also the people of Thailand.