SINGAPORE—The new satellite terminal (SAT-1) at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) opened Sept. 29 to increase the capacity at the overcrowded facility.

Costing THB35 billion ($1 billion) to build, the 251,000-m² (2.7 million ft.²) SAT-1 will eventually allow BKK’s annual passenger volume to increase from 45 million to 60 million.

For now, SAT-1 has only been partially opened. During an initial period, Thai AirAsia X and Thai Vietjet Air will be the only two carriers operating from there, according to Airports of Thailand (AOT). The airport operator expects SAT-1 to handle 514 flights and 142,761 passengers during the first month of operation.

Kittipong Kittikachorn, BKK’s director, has told local media that the facility will be fully operational by the end of 2023 with more airlines expected to move into the facility.

Meanwhile, the new third runway at BKK will be operational from the third quarter of 2024, increasing aircraft movements from 68 per hour to 94 per hour, AOT told local media.

With an eye on spurring the kingdom’s economy through tourism and air transport, Thailand’s newly elected Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced a five-month visa waiver for Chinese and Kazakhstani visitors. The news came shortly before China’s eight-day Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday period. An average of 1.58 million individuals will cross China’s border every day during the autumn holiday, Beijing’s National Immigration Administration estimates.

CAPA – Centre for Aviation and OAG Schedules Analyser data shows Japan is the top country departing from BKK in terms of capacity, followed closely by China and South Korea. The top routes from Thailand’s capital connect BKK with Seoul Incheon, Dubai International Airport, and Tokyo Narita.