17 October 2012, Bangkok – The refurbished Don Mueang International Airport reopened earlier this month welcoming AirAsia’s move from Suvarnabhumi Airport, two other domestic airlines (Nok Air and Orient) and chartered flights. Don Mueang was once a military airport in the 90s and is an airhub with some 25 million travellers passing through every year. Don Mueang is located at the northern edge of Bangkok, closer to inner Bangkok. It is surrounded by urban development including Future Park Rangsit – once the country’s largest mall and Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Thai AirAsia’s move to Don Mueang International Airport comes at a time where the airline projects high growth adding five to six aircraft every year for the next two years. The airline aims to increase its fleet of Airbus A320s to 48 by 2016. It currently has at its three hubs – 23 aircraft in Bangkok, 2 in Phuket and 1 in Chiang Mai.
It takes within an estimated 15 minutes to pass through immigration and customs while baggage clearance is also faster with non congestion airside. There are 34 immigration counters before departure from the airport and 26 counters upon arrival.
Thai AirAsia has 44 of a total 124 check-in counters at the airport. When Thai AirAsia was in Suvarnabhumi, the airline had only 24 check-in counters.
The move to Don Mueang also saves the airline fuel because it has less traffic with no more than three planes waiting to take off during peak periods compared to seven to eight planes at Suvarnabhumi.
Airport tax at Don Mueang is the same as Suvarnabhumi. The airport authorities have no plans to reduce the airport tax at Don Mueang.
Two other low cost carriers have seen the new airport but have yet to make any commitments to shift yet.
Once you’ve checked in and cleared immigration, you will be welcomed by a few shops and F&B outlets in the international departure area including Naraya, Jim Thompson, Spa Products, Asia Book, McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, Black Canyon and Boots.
In the domestic departure area, you can shop at Cath Kidston, Longchamp, Esprit, Ripcurl, Puma, Red Earth, Skin Food, The Face Shop and Etude as well as IT gadgets and brand name watch boutiques.
Distances from Don Mueang to (30 mins unless stated otherwise)
- Suvarnabhumi Airport 47.5km (45mins)
- Central Bangkok (Siam Area) 23km
- Mo Chit (Connect to BTS and MRT) 14km
- Silom (South) 26km
- Sanam Luang (Grand Palace) 27km
- Phra Khanong (Sukhumvit) 27km (40mins)
- Hua Lamphong (Bangkok Railway Station) 30km
It takes less than 30 mins to Mo Chit BTS Station to get to Petchburi, Sukhumvit and Bangna. There is also a free daily airport shuttle service between Don Mueang International Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport provided by The Airports of Thailand from 5am to 12 midnight. The scheduled service operates between every 20 minutes to an hour.
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