Suvarnabhumi Airport (IATA: BKK), located in Samut Prakan Province about 25 kilometers from Bangkok, officially opened for full commercial operations on September 28, 2006. However, operational delays due to runway issues postponed its full utilization to September 2007. Built in collaboration with Japan's infrastructure experts, the airport was envisioned as Thailand’s primary gateway and a central aviation hub for Asia, replacing Don Mueang Airport. Suvarnabhumi boasts the world's tallest control tower (132.2 meters) and the third-largest single-terminal building globally (563,000 square meters).
In 2019, Suvarnabhumi ranked 19th globally for passenger traffic, serving 65.4 million passengers, and 21st for cargo volume, handling 1.33 million tons. Covering 32.4 square kilometers, it is the world's 10th-largest airport by area. In the same year, the airport recorded its highest number of flights, totaling 980,967, including 33,987 flights in January alone.
Currently led by Director Kittipong Kittikachorn, the airport handles 104 scheduled airlines and several charter services, supporting 76 flights per hour and up to 45 million passengers annually. It is a hub for major Thai carriers, including Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways, and facilitates 3 million tons of cargo annually. Connectivity includes 44 Chinese cities and 15 provinces within Thailand, with advanced highway links to Bangkok and industrial hubs.