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169-566: Operating from its primary hub at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport , THAI currently serves 51 international and 10 domestic destinations using a fleet of 79 aircraft consisting of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus with 89 aircraft on order as of October 2024, with plans to increase its fleet to 143 aircraft by 2029. Currently THAI's route network is dominated by flights to cities in Europe, Asia and Oceania flying to 30 countries as of August 2024 including 9 domestic routes. THAI

338-470: A Boeing 747-400 and an Airbus A300-600 , simultaneously departed the airport at 09:19 to Singapore and Hong Kong respectively. At 15:50 the same aircraft flew back and made simultaneous touchdowns on runways 19L and 19R. These test flights demonstrated the readiness of the airport to handle traffic. On 15 September 2006, the airport started limited daily operations with Jetstar Asia operating three Singapore to Bangkok flights. Bangkok Airways moved to

507-504: A major air cargo hub , with a total of 95 airlines. On social networks, Suvarnabhumi was the world's most popular site for taking Instagram photographs in 2012. Suvarnabhumi reassigned the IATA airport code , BKK , from Don Mueang after that airport ceased international commercial flights. Motorway 7 connects the airport, Bangkok, and the heavily industrial eastern seaboard of Thailand , where most export manufacturing takes place. During

676-472: A megacity and an extreme primate city , dwarfing Thailand's other urban centres in both size and importance to the national economy. Bangkok traces its roots to a small trading post during the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 15th century, which eventually grew and became the site of two capital cities, Thonburi in 1767 and Rattanakosin in 1782. Bangkok was at the heart of the modernization of Siam during

845-985: A "concrete" solution", said Tony Tyler, IATA 's director general and CEO. In January 2007, Thai Airways announced a plan to move some of its domestic operations back to Don Mueang International Airport due to overcrowding. Three days later, the Ministry of Transport recommended temporarily reopening Don Mueang while repair work on the runways at Suvarnabhumi proceeded. At that time, Thai Airways said it would shift most of its domestic flights back to Don Mueang while keeping flights with high international passenger connections such as Chiang Mai and Phuket at Suvarnabhumi. On 28 March 2009, Thai Airways discontinued all domestic flights from Don Mueang. Bangkok Airways and One-Two-GO Airlines had similar plans, but Bangkok Airways remained at Suvarnabhumi. Thai AirAsia said it would not move unless it could shift both its international and domestic operations, prompting them to stay at Suvarnabhumi for

1014-579: A Category 2 rating, Thailand's air carriers can continue existing routes to the United States but they won't be allowed to establish new routes to the United States." The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) declined to blacklist any Thai carriers following a review of certain carriers in November 2015. Thai later received third country operator (TCO) certification from the EU, effective 15 December 2015, authorizing

1183-566: A bakery production facility, food supply for airline lounges, as well as food production for banquet services and Thai Catering restaurants in domestic airports around the country. Another facility is open for producing food for flights departing from in Krabi Airport. Thai Catering received the Best Economy Class Onboard Catering Award from Skytrax between 2011-2014 and 2016-2018. In 1995, after reporting losses within

1352-434: A capacity of handling 76 flight operations per hour, co-locates the international and domestic terminals, though assigning them to different parts of the concourse. In the initial phase of construction, it was capable of handling 45 million passengers and three million tonnes of cargo per year. Above the underground rail link station and in front of the passenger terminal building is a 600-room hotel operated by Accor under

1521-412: A centre for the arts, fashion, and entertainment. The city is known for its street life and cultural landmarks, as well as its red-light districts . The Grand Palace and Buddhist temples including Wat Arun and Wat Pho stand in contrast with other tourist attractions such as the nightlife scenes of Khaosan Road and Patpong . Bangkok is among the world's top tourist destinations, and has been named

1690-553: A colour that is used throughout the airline from uniforms to interior cabin colour schemes. In 1999, THAI first painted the Royal Barge Suphannahong aircraft livery on its Boeing 747-400 (HS-TGJ) aircraft, royally bestowed the name “Haripunchai” on the occasion of the Sixth Cycle Birthday of King Rama IX. This also applied on another Boeing 747-400 (HS-TGO, Bowonrangsi ), making both aircraft identical. To mark

1859-458: A disgrace to her family and religion, she barricaded herself in the hotel room, opened a Twitter account to plead for her freedom, and requested assistance from United Nations agents to get her to the Western world , away from her family, as a resettled refugee . As her pleas for help went viral, Thai agents agreed to let her go to Canada to start a new life without Islam . In January 2021,

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2028-456: A fully independent national airline in the shortest possible time. Thai nationals were gradually able to assume full managerial responsibility and the number of expatriate staff duly decreased, with expatriates accounting for less than one percent of staff based in Thailand in 1987. The airline's first intercontinental services using Douglas DC-8s started in 1971 to Australia , and then to Europe

2197-607: A long-standing cooperative relationship and both our countries work continuously to meet the challenge of ensuring aviation safety. A Category 2 International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) rating means that the country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, or its civil aviation authority—a body equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters—is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping, or inspection procedures. With

2366-421: A motorist drove his car through security gates and onto the tarmac at the airport while it was in use. It was later revealed that the driver had been under the influence of methamphetamine, which was also discovered in the trunk of the car. The driver claimed that he had taken a wrong turn. Petty thieves and confidence men, the majority of them illegal taxi drivers or tour guides, are known to prey on tourists in

2535-559: A national subdivision. In 1915, the monthon was split into several provinces, the administrative boundaries of which have since further changed. The city in its current form was created in 1972 with the formation of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), following the merger of Phra Nakhon province on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya and Thonburi province on the west during the previous year. The origin of

2704-735: A natural feature. In the 1940s, enclosing concrete walls were added to stop the hill from eroding. Like most of Thailand, Bangkok has a tropical savanna climate (Aw) under the Köppen climate classification and is under the influence of the Asian monsoon system. The city experiences three seasons: hot, rainy, and cool, although temperatures are fairly hot year-round, ranging from an average low of 23.2 °C (73.8 °F) in December to an average high of 35.7 °C (96.3 °F) in April. The annual average temperature

2873-473: A new route network management system. Following implementation, flight schedules were synchronized, allowing international passengers to transit via Bangkok Suvarnabhumi more conveniently. Thai planned to adjust thirteen route schedules, mainly in Japan , Australia , and India . Routes to Perth and Brisbane were announced. In February 2023, it has been announced that subsidiary Thai Smile will be dissolved as

3042-478: A part of the financial reconstruction. All the Thai Smile aircraft are to be reabsorbed by THAI Airways. Thai Catering began operations on 20 April 1960 by renting out a hangar at Don Mueang Airport for airline meal production. The current headquarters are located at Suvarnabhumi Airport in a 120,000 square meters facility and is able to produce 87,000 meals per day. The facility at Don Mueang Airport remains in use as

3211-498: A return to the US using Boeing 787-9 by 2017. However, Charamporn Jothikastira, THAI president, turned down the possibility of returning to Los Angeles or New York City due to losses in the past. Instead, Thai considered other cities such as San Francisco and Seattle . While Thai Smile , its subsidiary, planned new regional routes such as Cebu , Medan , Surabaya , Chandigarh , Shantou and Tianjin . In August 2016, Thai introduced

3380-523: A rise by 2100 to, on average, 297 to 344 days at or above 32 °C. Bangkok's fifty districts serve as administrative subdivisions under the authority of the BMA. Thirty-five of these districts lie to the east of the Chao Phraya, while fifteen are on the western bank, known as the Thonburi side of the city. The fifty districts, arranged by district code, are: Bangkok's districts often do not accurately represent

3549-514: A separate entity and merged into Thai Airways by 2024 in an effort to reduce losses. The last flight of Thai Smile occurred on December 31, 2023. The current safety video was introduced in 2018. Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation president Rungsit Kanjanavanit stated his belief that the video does not sufficiently reflect Thai culture as the animals and flowers used are more commonly found in South America. As part of THAI's broader growth strategy in

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3718-557: A series of restructuring initiatives, including a two-year deferral of its Airbus A380 deliveries, the carrier returned to a net profit of 2.5 billion baht. Thai's need for reform became evident in the first decade of the 21st century, but reforms, when they came, were invariably cut short. Thai's problems were threefold: ineffective leadership at the top; inexperienced boards; and a coddled union. Piyasvasti Amranand took Thai's helm in October 2009 after serving as energy minister. At Thai, he

3887-399: A sex tourism destination. Disproportionate urban development led to increasing income inequalities and migration from rural areas into Bangkok; its population surged from 1.8 million to 3 million in the 1960s. Following the US withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973, Japanese businesses took over as leaders in investment, and the expansion of export-oriented manufacturing led to growth of

4056-647: A subsidiary of Bang Chak Corporation , with the aim of expanding the distribution of its products to at least 100 branches of Inthanin Coffee in Bang Chak gas stations by 2022. In 2006, Thai Airways moved its hub to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport . Coinciding with the arrival of new aircraft in the mid-2000s, as well as its new hub in Bangkok, the airline launched a brand renewal by introducing new aircraft livery, new aircraft seating, and revamped ground and air service. The logo on

4225-653: A third revision is undergoing public hearings in 2012. Bangkok's historic centre remains the Rattanakosin Island in Phra Nakhon District. It is the site of the Grand Palace and the City Pillar Shrine, primary symbols of the city's founding, as well as important Buddhist temples. Phra Nakhon, along with the neighbouring Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Samphanthawong Districts, formed what was the city proper in

4394-559: A total of 120 parking bays (51 with contact gates and 69 remote gates), with five of these capable of accommodating the Airbus A380 . Suvarnabhumi Airport has 72 jet bridges and 69 non-jet bridges. Additionally, flights are able to park at remote locations on the ramp, from which airport buses transport passengers to and from the terminal. Suvarnabhumi Airport has 18 jet bridges and 6 non-jet bridges for Airbus A380 . The airport's two runways can accommodate 64 flights per hour. At peak times

4563-399: Is Ficus benjamina . Giant barb ( Catlocarpio siamensis ) has been chosen as the aquatic animal of Bangkok. The official city slogan, adopted in 2012, reads: As built by deities, the administrative centre, dazzling palaces and temples, the capital of Thailand กรุงเทพฯ ดุจเทพสร้าง เมืองศูนย์กลางการปกครอง วัดวังงามเรืองรอง เมืองหลวงของประเทศไทย As the capital of Thailand, Bangkok is

4732-498: Is 28.9 °C (84.0 °F). The rainy season begins with the arrival of the southwest monsoon around mid-May. September is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of 335.9 millimetres (13.22 in). The rainy season lasts until October, when the dry and cool northeast monsoon takes over until February. The hot season is generally dry, but also sees occasional summer storms. The surface magnitude of Bangkok's urban heat island has been measured at 2.5 °C (4.5 °F) during

4901-423: Is 3.3 square metres (36 sq ft) of green space per person, compared to an average of 39 square metres (420 sq ft) in other cities across Asia. In Europe, London has 33.4 m of green space per head. Bangkokians thus have 10 times less green space than is standard in the region's urban areas. Green belt areas include about 700 square kilometres (270 sq mi) of rice paddies and orchards on

5070-532: Is among its most important road junctions, serving over 100 bus lines as well as an elevated train station. From the monument, Phahonyothin and Ratchawithi  / Din Daeng Roads respectively run north and east linking to major residential areas. Most of the high-density development areas are within the 113-square-kilometre (44 sq mi) area encircled by the Ratchadaphisek inner ring road. Ratchadaphisek

5239-473: Is an issue in the gulf coastal area, a small length of which lies within Bangkok's Bang Khun Thian District . Tidal flat ecosystems existed on the coast; however, many have been reclaimed for agriculture, aquaculture, and salt works. There are no mountains in Bangkok. The closest mountain range is the Khao Khiao Massif , about 40 km (25 mi) southeast of the city. Phu Khao Thong, the only hill in

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5408-502: Is characterised by a top layer of soft marine clay , known as "Bangkok clay", averaging 15 metres (49 ft) in thickness, which overlies an aquifer system consisting of eight known units. This feature has contributed to the effects of subsidence caused by extensive groundwater pumping. First discovered in the 1970s, subsidence soon became a critical issue, reaching a rate of 120 millimetres (4.7 in) per year in 1981. Ground water management and mitigation measures have since lessened

5577-492: Is currently the main hub for Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways , as well as the operating base for Thai VietJet Air and Thai AirAsia . It also serves as a regional gateway and connecting point for various foreign carriers connecting to Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. Suvarnabhumi was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September 2006. The airport

5746-431: Is designed with structural elements and bays placed in a cantilevered , wavelike form to appear to "float" over the concourse beneath. This overall design principle was to express the former essence of the site, from which water had to be drained before construction could begin. The eight composite 2,710-ton trusses supporting the canopy of the main terminal are essentially diagrams of the bending moments acting on them, with

5915-582: Is found in many of its soi s ('alley' or 'lane'). Bangkok lacks a single distinct central business district . Instead, the areas of Siam and Ratchaprasong serve as a "central shopping district" containing many of the bigger malls and commercial areas in the city, as well as Siam Station , formerly the only transfer point between the city's then-two elevated train lines (the Sukhumvit and Silom BTS lines). The Victory Monument in Ratchathewi District

6084-426: Is found within the city limits: 3,887 rai (6.2 km ; 2.4 sq mi), amounting to 0.4 per cent of city area. Land use in the city consists of 23 per cent residential use, 24 per cent agriculture, and 30 per cent used for commerce, industry, and government. The BMA's City Planning Department (CPD) is responsible for planning and shaping further development. It published master plan updates in 1999 and 2006, and

6253-662: Is lined with businesses and retail outlets, and office buildings also cluster around Ratchayothin Intersection in Chatuchak District to the north. Farther from the city centre, most areas are primarily mid- or low-density residential. The Thonburi side of the city is less developed, with fewer high rises. With the exception of a few secondary urban centres, Thonburi, in the same manner as the outlying eastern districts, consists mostly of residential and rural areas. While most of Bangkok's streets are fronted by vernacular shophouses ,

6422-783: Is located on the underground floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport, which also links to the Airports' Novotel Hotel adjacent to the main terminal. The ARL hours of service are 06:00 to 00:00. The ARL has two interchange stations, namely Phaya Thai (changing for BTS Green Line services) and Makkasan (linking Phetchaburi station of the MRT Blue Line ). In the future, the ARL will complement the SRT Red Line commuter service, which comprises two-meter gauge, dual-track lines. The ARL may also be extended from Phaya Thai to Don Mueang via Bang Sue Grand Station , given that

6591-561: Is located. Ban Khrua on Saen Saep Canal is home to descendants of the Cham who settled in the late 18th century. Although the Portuguese who settled during the Thonburi period have ceased to exist as a distinct community, their past is reflected in Santa Cruz Church , on the west bank of the river. Likewise, Assumption Cathedral on Charoen Krung Road is among many European-style buildings in

6760-603: Is managed by a district director appointed by the governor. District councils, elected to four-year terms, serve as advisory bodies to their respective district directors. The BMA is divided into sixteen departments, each overseeing different aspects of the administration's responsibilities. Most of these responsibilities concern the city's infrastructure, and include city planning, building control, transportation, drainage, waste management and city beautification, as well as education, medical and rescue services. Many of these services are provided jointly with other agencies. The BMA has

6929-524: Is more commonly translated as 'City of Angels', which is also used to draw comparisons with Los Angeles in the United States, a comparably sized city with similar traffic issues. Another nickname sometimes used to refer to the city is The Big Mango, a tongue-in-cheek comparison to The Big Apple for New York City . The city of Bangkok is locally governed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). Although its boundaries are at

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7098-476: Is no longer the majority shareholder, having reduced its holding to 47.86 percent from 51.03 percent. On 6 December 1987, services to Auckland in New Zealand were inaugurated. On 1 April 1988, then-Prime Minister Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda , merged the international and domestic operations of the two companies to form the present company, Thai Airways International, to have a single national carrier. On 25 June 1991,

7267-547: Is on what had formerly been known as Nong Nguhao ( lit.   ' Cobra Swamp ' ) in Racha Thewa in Bang Phli , Samut Prakan province , as well as the districts of Bang Kapi , Lat Krabang , Bang Na , and Prawet in the eastern side of Bangkok, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) from downtown. The terminal building was designed by Helmut Jahn of Murphy/Jahn Architects. It was constructed primarily by ITO JV . The airport had

7436-485: Is operated by SRTET, a subsidiary company of the State Railway of Thailand . The standard gauge line is 28.6 kilometres (17.8 mi) long and is elevated for most of its length, running mostly above existing regional railway lines and parallel to Motorway 7 and Si Rat Expressway. There is a short at-grade/underground segment as the line approaches the passenger terminal building of Suvarnabhumi Airport. The ARL Station

7605-486: Is still regarded as a true reformer, imposing salary cuts for senior executives as part of his drive to reduce costs. He was voted out by the board in 2012 for what may have been political reasons. The board of directors was, after the 2014 Thai coup d'état , packed with military brass. Five civilian members were purged and replaced with five Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) generals, as was the board's chairman. The appointments ended Thai's policy of only appointing technocrats to

7774-460: Is the capital and most populous city of Thailand . The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated population of 9.0 million as of 2021, 13% of the country's population. Over 17.4 million people (25%) live within the surrounding Bangkok Metropolitan Region as of the 2021 estimate, making Bangkok

7943-520: Is the centrally located Lumphini Park near the Silom–Sathon business district with an area of 57.6 hectares (142 acres). It is connected by a 1.3 km elevated pedestrian and bicycle walkway to the Benjakitti Park, which includes a recently completed expansion including wetlands, skywalks and rare plants. Other parks include the 80-hectare (200-acre) Suanluang Rama IX in the east of the city, and

8112-591: Is the site of many of the country's major corporate headquarters, but also of some of the city's red-light districts . The Siam and Ratchaprasong areas in Pathum Wan are home to some of the largest shopping malls in Southeast Asia . Numerous retail outlets and hotels also stretch along Sukhumvit Road leading southeast through Watthana and Khlong Toei Districts. More office towers line the streets branching off Sukhumvit, especially Asok Montri , while upmarket housing

8281-597: The Airbus A340-500 fleet it acquired in 2005, Thai commenced non-stop flights between Bangkok and New York , its first non-stop service to North America . The airline later converted an existing one-stop service (via Tokyo ) to Los Angeles into a non-stop flight using the same aircraft type. Citing very high fuel costs, Thai discontinued the New York service in July 2008, even though the airline had been able to fill 80 percent of

8450-463: The COVID-19 pandemic , the airport was temporarily converted to a hospital and vaccination center. The need for the new airport was recognized in 1973 when 8,000 acres (3,200 ha) of land was purchased 40 km (25 mi) east of Bangkok. The site, known as Cobra Swamp, was drained and named Suvarnabhumi, meaning "realm of gold". On 14 October 1973, student-led protests led to the overthrow of

8619-536: The Chatuchak – Queen Sirikit – Wachirabenchathat park complex in northern Bangkok, which has a combined area of 92 hectares (230 acres). More parks are expected to be created through the Green Bangkok 2030 project, which aims to leave the city with 10 square metres (110 sq ft) of green space per person, including 30% of the city having tree cover. The city of Bangkok has a population of 8,305,218 according to

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8788-522: The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) on Motorway 7. The name Suvarnabhumi is Sanskrit for "land of gold" ( Devanagari :सुवर्णभूमि IAST : Suvarṇabhūmi ; Suvarṇa is "gold", Bhūmi is 'land'; literally "golden land"). The name was chosen by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej whose name includes Bhūmi , referring to the Buddhist golden kingdom , thought to have been to the east of

8957-672: The Ganges , possibly somewhere in Southeast Asia. In Thailand, government proclamations and national museums insist that Suvarnabhumi was somewhere on the coast of the central plains, near the ancient city of U Thong , which might be the origin of the Indianised Dvaravati culture. Although the claims have not been substantiated, the Thai government named the new Bangkok airport Suvarnabhumi Airport, in celebration of this tradition. The airport

9126-514: The Novotel brand. The airport's main passenger terminal was, at the time of construction, the world's largest passenger terminal ever constructed in one phase at 563,000 square metres (6,060,000 sq ft). The airport air-traffic control tower was the tallest in the world at 135 metres (443 ft) from 2006 to 2014. From the opening of Suvarnabhumi in 2006 to early 2017, eight people had fallen to their deaths from upper-floor walkways, prompting

9295-473: The nine gems , seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra 's behest. The name is listed in Guinness World Records as the world's longest place name , at 168 letters. Many Thais who recall the full name do so because of its use in the 1989 song "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon" by Thai rock band Asanee–Wasan , the lyrics of which consist entirely of

9464-701: The "bio hub" of Asia. In April 2015, after an audit of the Thai Department of Civil Aviation, Thailand was downgraded from Category 1 to Category 2 due to negative audit results from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). On 1 December 2015, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced their reassessment of the safety rating for Thailand, downgrading it from a Category 1 to Category 2 country. The FAA stated, "U.S. and Thai aviation officials have

9633-420: The 1960s through the 1980s and now exerts a significant impact on Thailand's politics, economy, education, media and modern society. The Asian investment boom in the 1980s and 1990s led many multinational corporations to locate their regional headquarters in Bangkok. The city is now a regional force in finance, business and pop culture. It is an international hub for transport and health care, and has emerged as

9802-541: The 1990s when Thai Airways began "buying every type of plane that was being manufactured." Different models meant that the airline had to train an army of technicians to keep differing airframes and engines from both General Electric and Rolls-Royce airworthy, significantly inflating maintenance costs. In the first decade of the 21st century, Thai Airways continued its route network expansion with new services to Chengdu , Busan , Chennai , Xiamen , Milan , Moscow , Islamabad , Hyderabad , Johannesburg , and Oslo . Using

9971-419: The 1990s. The city has since turned to public transport in an attempt to solve the problem, operating 10 urban rail lines and building other public transit; however, congestion remains a prevalent issue. The history of Bangkok dates at least back to the early 15th century, to when it was a village on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River , under the rule of Ayutthaya . Because of its strategic location near

10140-488: The 2010 census, or 12.6 per cent of the national population, while 2020 estimates place the figure at 10.539 million (15.3 per cent). Roughly half are internal migrants from other Thai provinces; population registry statistics recorded 5,676,648 residents belonging to 2,959,524 households in 2018. Much of Bangkok's daytime population commutes from surrounding provinces in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region,

10309-517: The 777 with one-stop service (with the 330 minute rule) would be indefinite for years to come; the airline had no plans to pursue newer North America destinations (e.g., Houston) or purchase the Boeing 747-8 for transpacific routes since is operating the Airbus A380 . The 2000s also saw Thai expand its Thai airport network beyond its Bangkok hub. The airline launched non-stop flights from Phuket to Tokyo–Narita , Seoul–Incheon and Hong Kong . During

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10478-585: The Bangkok Metropolitan Council. The council is the BMA's legislative body, and has power over municipal ordinances and the city's budget. The latest gubernatorial election took place on 22 May 2022 after an extended lapse following the 2014 Thai coup d'état , and was won by Chadchart Sittipunt . Bangkok is divided into fifty districts ( khet , equivalent to amphoe in the other provinces), which are further subdivided into 180 sub-districts ( khwaeng , equivalent to tambon ). Each district

10647-675: The Business Rehabilitation Plan and the amended plan, i.e. Mr. Piyasvasti Amranand, Mr. Pornchai Thiravet, Mr. Siri Jirapongphan, Mr. Kraisorn Barameeauychai, and Mr. Chansin Treenuchagron, has become the Plan Administrators who are authorized to operate THAI's business and implement the plan. On 1 July 2022, the Plan Administrator submitted the petition for plan amendment to the official receiver. On 1 September 2022,

10816-535: The Business Rehabilitation Plan of THAI, the Planner's clarification, and the official receiver's opinion regarding several issues, the Central Bankruptcy Court granted an order to approve THAI's Business Rehabilitation Plan as well as the amended plan following the acceptance resolution of the creditors' meeting on 19 May 2021. As a result, the Plan Administrator nominations whose names were proposed according to

10985-597: The Coronation of the King Rama X Thai Airways used a Boeing 777-300 (HS-TKF) to put the Suphannahong Royal Barge as its aircraft livery. The key trends of Thai Airways are (as at the financial year ending December 31): As of October 2019, Thai's accumulated debt amounted to more than 100 billion baht , prompting a deputy transport minister to question "...how serious the airline's executives were in dealing with

11154-811: The Council of State that it must shut down due to a technicality. In January 2017, a four-year investigation by the UK 's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) determined that aircraft engine-maker Rolls-Royce had paid bribes to Thai Airways employees and government employees in Thailand to secure orders for the Rolls-Royce T800 engine for its Boeing 777-200s. Rolls-Royce admitted to the charge and agreed to pay penalties. The illicit payments of US$ 36.38M took place between 1991 and 2005. Bribes were paid in three tranches : The government rejected calls for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to use his Section 44 powers to cut through red tape in

11323-595: The Department of Employment, more than half of them migrants from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Following its establishment as capital city in 1782, Bangkok grew only slightly throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries. British diplomat John Crawfurd , visiting in 1822, estimated its population at no more than 50,000. As a result of Western medicine brought by missionaries as well as increased immigration from both within Siam and overseas, Bangkok's population gradually increased as

11492-538: The Grand Palace, reflect the heavy influence of European architecture at the time. Major government offices line the avenue, as does the Democracy Monument . The area is the site of the country's seat of power as well as the city's most popular tourist landmarks. In contrast with the low-rise historic areas, the business district on Si Lom and Sathon Roads in Bang Rak and Sathon Districts teems with skyscrapers. It

11661-488: The ICAO requirement had yet to be adopted as part of Thai law. As of early 2016, tarmac problems persisted at Suvarnabhumi. Soft spots on the tarmac, taxiways, and apron area had not been permanently fixed. Aircraft were getting stuck on the soft surfaces that are the result of sub-standard materials. "The constant resurfacing of the tarmac, taxiways and apron area with asphalt is an unacceptable patchwork solution. We literally need

11830-545: The Official Receiver held the creditors’ meeting via electronic means (e-Meeting). The creditors who hold 78.59 percent of the total claims of the creditors, who attended the meeting and cast votes, accepted the amendment of the Business Reorganization Plan that the Plan Administrator submitted to the Official Receiver. On 20 October 2022, the Central Bankruptcy Court issued an order approving the proposal for

11999-627: The Old Farang Quarter, where European diplomats and merchants lived in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Nearby, the Haroon Mosque is the centre of a Muslim community. Newer expatriate communities exist along Sukhumvit Road, including the Japanese community near Soi Phrom Phong and Soi Thong Lo , and the Arab and North African neighbourhood along Soi Nana. Sukhumvit Plaza, a mall on Soi Sukhumvit 12,

12168-577: The Plan Administrators and THAI management. On 20 August 2020, then Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senniam announced some Thai Airways employees became unusually rich from the 2003-2004 10 Airbus A340 's procurement deal and other mismanaged projects, according to a police-led investigation team set up by the Ministry of Transport . The team is forwarding its findings to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and has been informed by

12337-537: The Plan amendment of the Company. On 21 October 2022, THAI informed the resignation of the Plan Administrator, effective as of October 21, 2022 as follows: 1. Mr. Kraisorn Barameeauychai 2. Mr. Siri Jirapongphan On 17 May 2023, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) held a creditor committee’s meeting that reached a resolution in favor of the company’s restructuring of business operation in aviation as proposed by

12506-453: The Thai airport authority held a ceremony where 99 Buddhist monks chanted to appease the spirits. Full tests of the airport took place on 3 and 29 July 2006. Six local airlines — Thai Airways International , Nok Air , Thai AirAsia , Bangkok Airways , PBair , and One-Two-Go Airlines — used the airport as a base for twenty domestic flights. The first international test flights were conducted on 1 September 2006. Two Thai Airways aircraft,

12675-512: The airline ended its flights to the United States on 25 October 2015. As of the end of 2019, 1,438 of its 22,054 employees were pilots. Thai Airways International was founded in 1960 as a joint venture between Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), which held a 30 percent share of the new company valued at two million Thai baht , and Thailand's domestic carrier, Thai Airways Company ( Thai : เดินอากาศไทย ). SAS provided operational, managerial, and marketing expertise, with training aimed at building

12844-406: The airline is 410 billion baht in debt and 13,000 creditors. This include customers who simply bought tickets and not being refunded by Thai Airways. Most of those customers have waited for close to 2 years and still not being refunded although Thai Airways keeps selling new tickets. Its main creditors are the state-owned Krungthai and Government Savings Banks . The 50bn baht loan it had sought from

13013-435: The airline's future, including aircraft fleet renewal and an upgrade of existing services. Thai placed orders for a number of aircraft, including the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 , and it launched a refurbishment of its Boeing 747 and 777 cabins. Mindful of rising fuel costs, the airline phased-out its most inefficient aircraft, including its Airbus A340-500s . The airline took delivery of its first Airbus A380 aircraft in

13182-477: The airport on 21 September. AirAsia and Thai AirAsia followed on 25 September and on 26 September Nok Air moved to Suvarnabhumi Airport. During this initial phase, as well as in the previous tests, the airport used the temporary IATA code NBK . Suvarnabhumi officially opened at 03:00 on 28 September 2006, taking over all flights from Don Mueang. The first flight to arrive was a Lufthansa Cargo flight LH8442 from Mumbai at 03:05. The first commercial arrival

13351-420: The airport to spend 33 million baht in 2013 building glass barriers to prevent people from falling and/or taking their lives. By mid-2015, the airport was handling more than 800 flights per day, higher than its 600-flight capacity. It has exceeded its capacity of 45 million passengers per year. Airports of Thailand (AOT) approved an investment budget for the expansion of Suvarnabhumi Airport and construction

13520-458: The airport was minimal. Then Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont reopened Don Mueang for domestic flights voluntarily on 16 February 2007, with 71 weekly flights moved back initially, but no international flights. In January 2007, ruts were discovered in the runways at Suvarnabhumi. The east runway was scheduled to close for repairs. Expert opinions varied as to the cause of the ruts. Airport authorities and airline representatives maintained that

13689-542: The airport was ranked 58th by the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2024. On 25 January 2007, due to work upgrading the taxiways which suffered from small cracks, a few incoming flights were delayed and several flights were safely diverted to U-Tapao International Airport in Rayong Province. On 26 November 2008, an illegal occupation of the airport took place by People's Alliance for Democracy , closing

13858-412: The airport was still safe and resisted suggestions that the airport should be completely closed and all flights moved back to Don Mueang. On 27 January 2007, the Department of Civil Aviation declined to renew the airport's safety certificate, which had expired the previous day. The ICAO requires that international airports hold aerodrome safety certificates, but Suvarnabhumi continued to operate because

14027-590: The airport with Hua Takhe railway station is provided by BMTA. The train service is currently not as popular as the bus service because it requires a shuttle bus connection. The service will be stopped when the Airport Express Link is completed. Northeast of the airport is Suvarnabhumi Public Transport Center, which is the airport's main bus terminal. Bangkok Bangkok , officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep ,

14196-551: The airport's parking area for an hour, blocking the building's entrances and seizing ticket booths to collect fares from motorists. Airport security personnel failed to respond, reportedly because of an internal dispute within the parking management company, the firm contracted to run the parking facilities. Costing an estimated 155 billion baht (US$ 5 billion), the airport has two parallel runways (60 m wide, 4,000 m and 3,700 m long) and two parallel taxiways to accommodate simultaneous departures and arrivals. It has

14365-488: The area was originally swampland , which was gradually drained and irrigated for agriculture by the construction of canals ( khlong ) which took place from the 16th to 19th centuries. The course of the river as it flows through Bangkok has been modified by the construction of several shortcut canals . The city's waterway network served as the primary means of transport until the late 19th century, when modern roads began to be built. Up until then, most people lived near or on

14534-675: The arrival hall. They belong to politically well connected criminal groups: Kamnan Samruay, Boonruang Srisang, Sak Pakphanang, the Pattaya Mafia and Phuyai Daeng. Evicting them has proved difficult as they allegedly are well connected. (The head of the Pirap gang is supposedly related to an Airports of Thailand executive, while the Phuyai Daeng has ties to influential civil servants in Samut Prakan . ) On 1 October 2010, two hundred armed men occupied

14703-480: The authority to implement local ordinances, although civil law enforcement falls under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police Bureau . The seal of the city shows Hindu god Indra riding in the clouds on Airavata , a divine white elephant known in Thai as Erawan. In his hand Indra holds his weapon, the vajra . The seal is based on a painting done by Prince Naris . The tree symbol of Bangkok

14872-478: The board. Three RTAF generals remain on the 2020 board; they have no experience running listed companies or restructuring loss-making airlines. Concomitantly, employees at Thai enjoyed an overprotected status. Salary increases based on length of employment led to senior captains earning more than the CEO. While celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in 2010, Thai, led by its president, Piyasvasti Amranand, drafted new plans for

15041-431: The capital of Thailand . Located mostly in Racha Thewa subdistrict, Bang Phli district , Samut Prakan province , it covers an area of 3,240 ha (32.4 km ; 8,000 acres), making it one of the biggest international airports in Southeast Asia and a regional hub for aviation. The airport is also a major Cargo Air Freight Hub (20th busiest in 2019), which has a designated Airport Free Zone, as well as road links to

15210-513: The capital to the eastern bank's Rattanakosin Island , thus founding the Rattanakosin Kingdom . The City Pillar was erected on 21 April 1782, which is regarded as the date of foundation of Bangkok as the capital. Bangkok's economy gradually expanded through international trade, first with China , then with Western merchants returning in the early-to-mid 19th century. As the capital, Bangkok

15379-402: The carrier to continue flying to the EU for the foreseeable future. In July 2015, Thai announced the planned cancellation of service to Los Angeles after 25 October 2015, marking the end of US service. In June 2016, as a result of its restructuring plan, Thai announced it would commence thrice-weekly Tehran service. However, the service ended on 28 February 2018. The airline also considered

15548-493: The carrier to profitability. The team's "first task" is to deliver more tourists to 55 "second-tier" provinces. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will assist the team by creating a new campaign, "More Local", to drive tourism to less visited corners of the nation. AOT, which operates Thailand's six international airports, will invest 220 billion baht in infrastructure to increase airport capacity from 2018's 80 million passengers to 185 million in ten years. KTB's contribution to

15717-950: The city as envoy of the United States in 1833, noted that the city, since becoming capital, was known as Sia-Yut'hia , and this is the name used in international treaties of the period. The city's ceremonial name came into use during the reign of King Mongkut. The full name reads as follows: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยา มหาดิลกภพ นพรัตนราชธานีบูรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์มหาสถาน อมรพิมานอวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยวิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์ The name, composed of Pali and Sanskrit root words, translates as: City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of

15886-411: The city modernized in the late 19th century. This growth became even more pronounced in the 1930s, following the discovery of antibiotics. Although family planning and birth control were introduced in the 1960s, the lowered birth rate was more than offset by increased migration from the provinces as economic expansion accelerated. Only in the 1990s have Bangkok's population growth rates decreased, following

16055-453: The city occurred in 1995 and 2011 . In 2011, most of Bangkok's northern, eastern and western districts were flooded, in some places for over two months. Bangkok's coastal location makes it particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels due to global warming and climate change. A study by the OECD has estimated that 5.138 million people in Bangkok may be exposed to coastal flooding by 2070,

16224-440: The city's full name, repeated throughout the song. Today, the city is officially known in Thai by a shortened form of the full ceremonial name, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon ( กรุงเทพมหานคร ), which is colloquially further shortened to Krung Thep ( กรุงเทพฯ ). Krung กรุง is a Thai word of Khmer origin, meaning 'capital, king', while thep , เทพ is from Pali/Sanskrit deva , meaning 'deity' or 'god'. The name

16393-536: The city's population is Buddhist, according to the 2010 census. Other religions include Islam (4.6 per cent), Christianity (1.9 per cent), Hinduism (0.3 per cent), Sikhism (0.1 per cent) and Confucianism (0.1 per cent). Apart from Yaowarat, Bangkok also has several other distinct ethnic neighbourhoods. The Indian community is centred in Phahurat , where the Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha, founded in 1933,

16562-492: The commencement of 2014, Thai was subject to a rumor that the company would declare bankruptcy in May 2014. Listed on the Thai stock exchange, the company was formerly a state enterprise—until 22 May 2020—in which the finance ministry held a stake of up to 51 per cent. In a statement to the media, Chokchai Panyayong, the airways' senior executive vice-president and acting president, stated: "Thai has never once defaulted. Despite its loss in

16731-452: The company's second vice chairman as rehabilitation plan administrators, while the creditors will meet on 12 May 2021 to vote on the rehabilitation plan, and the court is expected to decide whether to endorse the plan between June and July 2021. On 15 June 2021, the Central Bankruptcy Court set the hearing to read out the court's order with regard to the consideration of THAI's Business Rehabilitation Plan. After receiving two objections against

16900-445: The cost of fixing 60 identified problems at the airport would be less than one percent of the total airline cost and the problems could be fixed in up to four to five years. Dr Narupol Chaiyut, a member of a committee overseeing service problems at the new airport, estimated that 70 percent of the problems would be fixed in 2007. Twenty of the 60 problems were successfully fixed by February 2007. Suvarnabhumi Airport's main terminal roof

17069-581: The day and 8.0 °C (14 °F) at night. The highest recorded temperature of Bangkok metropolis was 41.0 °C (105.8 °F) on 7 May 2023, and the lowest recorded temperature was 9.9 °C (49.8 °F) in January 1955. The Climate Impact Group at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies projected severe weather impacts on Bangkok caused by climate change . It found that Bangkok in 1960 had 193 days at or above 32 °C. In 2018, Bangkok can expect 276 days at or above 32 °C. The group forecasts

17238-448: The departure lounge and blocking exits and leaving almost 3,000 passengers stranded in the main terminal and another 350,000 stranded inside the country, as all flights were grounded. The People's Alliance for Democracy seized the control tower at 12:00. On 2 December 2008, protesters agreed to leave the airport as they had been illegally protesting and permitted the resumption of flights. Security checks, clean-ups, and re-certification once

17407-504: The early days of its founding: several ethnic communities were formed by immigrants and forced settlers including the Khmer , northern Thai , Lao , Vietnamese , Mon and Malay . Most prominent were the Chinese, who played major roles in the city's trade and became the majority of Bangkok's population—estimates include up to three-fourths in 1828 and almost half in the 1950s. Chinese immigration

17576-498: The eastern and western edges of the city, although their primary purpose is to serve as flood detention basins rather than to limit urban expansion. Bang Kachao , a 20-square-kilometre (7.7 sq mi) conservation area on an oxbow of the Chao Phraya, lies just across the southern riverbank districts, in Samut Prakan province . A master development plan has been proposed to increase total park area to 4 square metres (43 sq ft) per person. One of Bangkok's largest parks

17745-704: The effort consists of creating new payment solutions for tourists and ramping up travel promotions. Political interference, corruption and abuse of authority have been persistent issues in Thai's management. Speaking at the World Economic Forum on East Asia, former president Piyasvasti Amranand , who had been abruptly dismissed in May 2012, cited Thai's procurement of A340-500s (three of which had since been grounded) as examples of mismanagement influenced by corruption and political meddling, resulting in operational losses. At an extraordinary board meeting held on 27 March 2020, Chakkrit Parapuntakul, Second Vice Chairman,

17914-595: The exception of Chachoengsao, these provinces, together with Bangkok, form the greater Bangkok Metropolitan Region . Bangkok is situated in the Chao Phraya River delta in Thailand's central plain . The river meanders through the city in a southerly direction, emptying into the Gulf of Thailand approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of city centre. The area is flat and low-lying, with an average elevation of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level . Most of

18083-418: The expansion of Thai's Asian network. In the fourth quarter of 2016, Thai Smile vowed to resume its suspended routes and Thai's terminated regional routes to Da Nang , Kota Kinabalu , Luang Prabang and Mandalay . Also the airline has considered launching new services to Hangzhou and Zhengzhou . Due to the financial complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic , Thai Smile ceased operations in 2023 as

18252-407: The financial market in Bangkok. Rapid growth of the city continued through the 1980s and early 1990s, until it was stalled by the 1997 Asian financial crisis . By then, many public and social issues had emerged, among them the strain on infrastructure reflected in the city's notorious traffic jams. Bangkok's role as the nation's political stage continues to be seen in strings of popular protests, from

18421-468: The following year. A number of the larger Douglas DC-10 wide-body tri-jets was acquired in the late-1970s. Services to North America commenced in 1980. On 1 April 1977, after 17 years of capital participation by SAS, the Thai government bought out the remaining 15 percent of SAS-owned shares and Thai became a state owned enterprise of the Thai government. As of 22 May 2020, the Thai Ministry of Finance

18590-629: The functional divisions of its neighbourhoods or land usage. Although urban planning policies date back to the commission of the "Litchfield Plan" in 1960, which set out strategies for land use, transportation and general infrastructure improvements, zoning regulations were not fully implemented until 1992. As a result, the city grew organically throughout the period of its rapid expansion, both horizontally as ribbon developments extended along newly built roads, and vertically, with increasing numbers of high rises and skyscrapers being built in commercial areas. The city has grown from its original centre along

18759-651: The government would have kept it afloat for only five months. An 80bn baht capital infusion would have been needed later. Thai Airways lost its state enterprise status on 22 May 2020 when the Finance Ministry sold off a 3.17% stake in Thai to the Vayupak 1 Fund, thus reducing its former majority shareholding to 47.86%. Thai has appealed to the government for help to forestall the seizure of its aircraft by foreign creditors. The airline sought government help because it has contracts and legal obligations that can only be resolved by

18928-436: The greatest depth at mid-span and over the supports. The result of Helmut Jahn 's vision is a structure with performance materials serve in their total composition and in use more than in their conventional roles. This maximizes daylight use in comfort with substantial energy life-cycle cost savings. The installed cooling system reduced up to 50 percent compared to a conventional system. A translucent membrane with three layers

19097-503: The illegal occupation ended delayed the airport from being fully functional until 5 December 2008. On 5 January 2019, the airport gained international attention when a Saudi Arabian ex- Muslim , Rahaf Mohammed , fleeing an abusive family that punished children who did not follow their religion, was accosted by Thai authorities at the behest of Saudi Arabia and sent to one of the airport's hotels to await repatriation back to her family and country. Fearing that she could be killed for being

19266-434: The initiative with experimental flights in December 2011 as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program, otherwise known as "Travel Green". Thai hopes to stimulate sustained biofuel production in Thailand by working with Thai government agencies and regional corporate partners, such as PTT Public Company Limited . The effort aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in regional air travel as well as position Thailand to be

19435-506: The investigation of the Rolls-Royce bribery scandal. Response from the Thai government's National Anti-Corruption Commission to information provided by the SFO, is said to be "tepid" and "...could be more embarrassing than the scandal itself." Suvarnabhumi Airport Suvarnabhumi International Airport ( IATA : BKK , ICAO : VTBS ) is the main international airport serving Bangkok ,

19604-591: The large slums in Khlong Toei District . In total there were 125 squatted areas. Bangkok has several parks, although these amount to a per capita total park area of only 1.82 square metres (19.6 sq ft) in the city proper. Total green space for the entire city is moderate, at 11.8 square metres (127 sq ft) per person. In the more densely built-up areas of the city these numbers are as low as 1.73 and 0.72 square metres (18.6 and 7.8 sq ft) per person. More recent numbers claim that there

19773-515: The largely unrestricted building euphoria of the 1980s has transformed the city into an urban area of skyscrapers and high rises of contrasting and clashing styles. There are 581 skyscrapers over 90 metres (300 feet) tall in the city. Bangkok was ranked as the world's eighth tallest city in 2016. As a result of persistent economic disparity , many slums have emerged in the city. In 2000 there were over one million people living in about 800 informal settlements . Some settlements are squatted such as

19942-513: The late 19th century. Many traditional neighbourhoods and markets are found here, including the Chinese settlement of Sampheng . The city was expanded toward Dusit District in the early 19th century, following King Chulalongkorn's relocation of the royal household to the new Dusit Palace . The buildings of the palace, including the neoclassical Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall , as well as the Royal Plaza and Ratchadamnoen Avenue which leads to it from

20111-484: The late-19th century, as the country faced pressures from the West. The city was at the centre of the country's political struggles throughout the 20th century , as Siam—later renamed Thailand—abolished absolute monarchy, adopted constitutional rule, and underwent numerous coups and several uprisings. The city, incorporated as a special administrative area under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in 1972, grew rapidly during

20280-477: The late-2000s, Thai's growth was hampered by a combination of internal and external factors, including a spike in fuel prices, domestic political conflict in Thailand, and the global economic crisis of the late-2000s . In 2008, after achieving profitability for the previous 40 years, Thai recorded a loss for the first time in its history of around 21 billion baht (US$ 675 million). The airline blamed high fuel costs and Thailand's political turmoil. As of Q2 2009, after

20449-399: The metropolitan area, originated with a very large chedi that King Rama III (1787–1851) built at Wat Saket . The chedi collapsed during construction because the soft soil could not support its weight. Over the next few decades, the abandoned mud-and-brick structure acquired the shape of a natural hill and became overgrown with weeds. The locals called it phu khao ( ภูเขา ), as if it were

20618-459: The military and political elite as the country abolished absolute monarchy in 1932 . As Thailand allied with Japan in World War II , Bangkok was subjected to Allied bombing , but rapidly grew in the post-war period as a result of US aid and government-sponsored investment. Bangkok's role as a US military R&R destination boosted its tourism industry as well as firmly establishing it as

20787-466: The military government of Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn and the project was shelved. "The Japanese government would end up assisting the new airport project as ODA, and in 1996, the project took a step forward with the signing of a loan agreement between the Government of Thailand and the Japanese government. Then, in 1996, Second Bangkok International Airport Company Ltd. (SBIA) was established as

20956-634: The mouth of the river, the town gradually increased in importance. Bangkok initially served as a customs outpost with forts on both sides of the river, and was the site of a siege in 1688 in which the French were expelled from Siam. After the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese in 1767, the newly crowned King Taksin established his capital at the town, which became the base of the Thonburi Kingdom . In 1782, King Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I) succeeded Taksin, moved

21125-419: The name Bangkok ( บางกอก , pronounced in Thai as [bāːŋ kɔ̀ːk] ) is unclear. Bang บาง is a Thai word meaning 'a village on a stream', and the name might have been derived from Bang Ko ( บางเกาะ ), ko เกาะ meaning 'island', stemming from the city's watery landscape. Another theory suggests that it is shortened from Bang Makok ( บางมะกอก ), makok มะกอก being

21294-490: The name of Elaeocarpus hygrophilus , a plant bearing olive-like fruit. This is supported by the former name of Wat Arun , a historic temple in the area, that used to be called Wat Makok . Officially, the town was known as Thonburi Si Mahasamut ( ธนบุรีศรีมหาสมุทร , from Pali and Sanskrit , literally 'city of treasures gracing the ocean') or Thonburi , according to the Ayutthaya Chronicles . Bangkok

21463-486: The national rate; Thailand had long since become highly centralized around the capital. In 1980, Bangkok's population was fifty-one times that of Hat Yai and Songkhla , the second-largest urban centre at the time, making it the world's most prominent primate city . The majority of Bangkok's population identify as Thai , although details on the city's ethnic make-up are unavailable, as the national census does not document race. Bangkok's cultural pluralism dates back to

21632-572: The old Don Mueang International Airport has now been reopened for civil aviation under a dual-airport policy. Meanwhile, SRT provides a suburban commuter train service between Lad Krabang (the nearest station to Suvarnabhumi on the East line, one station from the airport by Airport Rail Link ) and the northern suburban city of Rangsit via downtown Bangkok and the old Don Mueang Airport. The train also connects with BTS and MRT at Phaya Thai and Phetchaburi stations respectively. A shuttle bus service linking

21801-428: The opening of a Pandora's Box , which will expose extensive corruption in the ailing national flag carrier which has hitherto been hidden from the public." On September 14, 2020, the Central Bankruptcy Court has given approval for THAI to enter rehabilitation. THAI has submitted the rehabilitation plan on 2 March 2021. The airline nominated the airline's independent director Piyasvasti Amranand and Chakkrit Parapuntakul,

21970-416: The other 76 provinces of Thailand. Of this, about 700 square kilometres (270 sq mi) form the built-up urban area. It is ranked 73rd in the world in terms of land area. The city's urban sprawl reaches into parts of the six other provinces that it borders, namely, in clockwise order from northwest: Nonthaburi , Pathum Thani , Chachoengsao , Samut Prakan , Samut Sakhon , and Nakhon Pathom . With

22139-571: The overall airport enlargement that would see Suvarnabhumi raise its annual passenger handling capacity to 125 million passengers, 90 million international and 35 million domestic passengers by 2024 at an estimated cost of 163 billion baht (US$ 5.25 billion/€3.62 billion). The expansion includes the construction of one additional runway of 3,700 metres (12,100 ft), subsequent enlargement of domestic and international terminals, and improvements to parking bays, car parks, and other airport infrastructure. In March 2024 Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said

22308-413: The previous year. Thai blamed declining tourist arrivals from North Asia owing to political unrest in Thailand during the year, but capacity figures from Flightglobal's Innovata Network Data service suggest that Europe was probably an even bigger drain on the bottom line during the year. Thai's new management team has set itself the goal of returning to "sustainable profitability" by 2022 as well as joining

22477-458: The project implementation organization, and the project got underway." It was scheduled to finish by 2000. The airport was due to open in late 2004. Still, a series of budget overruns , construction flaws, and allegations of corruption plagued the project. A further delay was caused by the discovery that the airport had been built over an old graveyard. Superstitious construction workers claimed to have seen ghosts there. On 23 September 2005,

22646-492: The provincial ( changwat ) level, unlike the other 76 provinces Bangkok is a special administrative area whose governor is directly elected to serve a four-year term. The governor, together with four appointed deputies, form the executive body, who implement policies through the BMA civil service headed by the Permanent Secretary for the BMA. In separate elections, each district elects one or more city councillors, who form

22815-624: The ranks of the world's top five airlines. The centerpiece of its turnaround plan is its proposed 100 billion baht purchase of 23 new aircraft. THAI's chairman pointed to its aging fleet as being expensive to maintain. THAI's 89 aircraft have an average age of 9.3 years compared with competitor Singapore Airlines average age of 7.6 years. Thai's chairman said the company has not yet determined "...what aircraft and type we need to buy because we have yet to finalize financing." Thai's recovery plans include teaming up with state enterprises Airports of Thailand PCL (AOT) and Krung Thai Bank (KTB) to help drive

22984-589: The reconfigured company listed its shares on the Stock Exchange of Thailand and offered them to the public. The Thai public offering of shares is the largest ever undertaken in the country. In 1997 Thai Airways planned a privatization program, the first in Thai history. On 14 May 1997, THAI, along with Lufthansa , Air Canada , SAS , and United Airlines , founded the world's first and largest airline alliance , Star Alliance. The genesis of Thai's later financial difficulties has been attributed to actions taken in

23153-605: The region, THAI launched a regional carrier with light-premium services, Thai Smile , which operates the narrow-bodied Airbus A320-200 on regional and domestic routes. The new airline began commercial operations in July 2012, after its first A320s were received. As of September 2020, Thai Smile files to 31 destinations and a fleet of 20 aircraft with Chiang Mai International Airport being its focus city . By September 2016, Thai Smile , Thai's subsidiary announced new services to Gaya , Varanasi , Jaipur , and Lucknow in India marking

23322-426: The river into a sprawling metropolis surrounded by swaths of suburban residential development extending north and south into neighbouring provinces. The highly populated and growing cities of Nonthaburi , Pak Kret , Rangsit and Samut Prakan are effectively now suburbs of Bangkok. Nevertheless, large agricultural areas remain within the city proper at its eastern and western fringes, and a small number of forest area

23491-412: The runways average 63 flights per hour. In April 2019 the Thai cabinet approved a sum of 21.8 billion baht for the construction of a third runway. Construction was originally planned to start in 2019 and be completed in 2021. The third runway will accommodate a maximum of 30 flights per hour. After delays, the third runway is expected to open at the end of 2024. The main passenger terminal building, with

23660-534: The seat of all branches of the national government . The Government House , Parliament House and Supreme , Administrative and Constitutional Courts are all in the city. Bangkok is the site of the Grand Palace and Dusit Palace , respectively the official and de facto residence of the king. Most government ministries also have headquarters and offices in the capital. Bangkok covers an area of 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi), ranking 69th among

23829-457: The seats. The service to Los Angeles was again reverted to one-stop service via Seoul on 1 May 2012, leaving the airline without a non-stop service between Thailand and North America. The A340s used were phased out, replaced by the Boeing 777-200ER for the Bangkok – Seoul – Los-Angeles route. Although the previous A340 used for non-stop services was not subject to ETOPS , the phasing in of

23998-556: The second half of 2012, intending to eventually deploy the aircraft on its core European routes. THAI resumed network expansion with the resumption of flights to Brussels , in addition to a new non-stop flight from Stockholm and Copenhagen to Phuket . At the same time, the Greek debt crisis caused Thai to suspend its services to Athens . Thai expects to be the first carrier in Asia to fly commercial flights using biofuels . The carrier launched

24167-478: The seventh highest figure among the world's port cities. There are fears that the city may be submerged by 2030. A study published in October 2019 in Nature Communications corrected earlier models of coastal elevations and concluded that up to 12 million Thais—mostly in the greater Bangkok metropolitan area—face the prospect of annual flooding events. This is compounded by coastal erosion, which

24336-829: The severity of the situation, and the rate of subsidence decreased to 10 to 30 millimetres (0.39 to 1.18 in) per year in the early 2000s, though parts of the city are now 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) below sea level. Subsidence has resulted in increased flood risk, as Bangkok is already prone to flooding due to its low elevation and an inadequate drainage infrastructure, often compounded by blockage from rubbish pollution (especially plastic waste). The city now relies on flood barriers and augmenting drainage from canals by pumping and building drain tunnels, but parts of Bangkok and its suburbs are still regularly inundated. Heavy downpours resulting in urban runoff overwhelming drainage systems, and runoff discharge from upstream areas, are major triggering factors. Severe flooding affecting much of

24505-503: The state. These issues must be dealt with before Thai enters debt rehabilitation. Concurrently, investigators are looking into anomalies in Thai ticket sales in 2019. The Transport Ministry reported that Thai ticket sales and freight revenues totalled 140bn baht in 2019, yet Thai had 25.4m passengers at an average ticket price of 6,081 baht, a total of 154.5bn baht. A senior prosecutor, Wanchai Roujanavong, had earlier warned that, "...the proposed rehabilitation of Thai Airways International [is]

24674-514: The student uprisings in 1973 and 1976 , anti-military demonstrations in 1992 , and frequent street protests since 2006 , including those by groups opposing and supporting former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from 2006 to 2013 , and a renewed student-led movement in 2020 . Administration of the city was first formalized by King Chulalongkorn in 1906, with the establishment of Monthon Krung Thep Phra Maha Nakhon ( มณฑลกรุงเทพพระมหานคร ) as

24843-501: The subsidiary after the airline released a new policy of not serving food outside meal service times, Puff and Pie Bakery House was established and its first branch opened on 19 November 1997 near Don Mueang Airport with an aim to increase revenue for the airline. A total of 19 Puff and Pie Branches can be found in Bangkok, primarily found in government offices and hospitals, providing bakery items and microwaveable meals from Thai Catering. In 2021, Puff and Pie cooperated with Inthanin Coffee,

25012-455: The tail fin shows the traditional Thai greeting gesture (wai), and the curves represents traditional Thai architecture of the decorative structure called lamyong that are common on temple roofs to distinguish different tiers in the structure. The gold represents the colour of Thai Temples , while the magenta signifies magnolia blossom, where finally the purple represents the Thai Orchid -

25181-405: The third quarter of last year, the company still has high liquidity and has a clear plan for debt repayment." He further explained that the carrier's loss of 6.35 billion baht in the third quarter of last year was the result of the company's unsuccessful plan to attract more customers. Thai's financial loss for 2014 was reported to be at 15.6 billion baht (US$ 479 million), 3.6 billion baht higher than

25350-538: The third runway would open in October 2024, with a long-term target capacity of 150 million passengers. The runway was opened for full aircraft operations on 1 November 2024, increasing the operational capacity from 68 to 94 flights/hour. A new midfield concourse called SAT-1 partially opened in September 2023 and is expected to fully open from early 2024. It is linked to the current main terminal via an underground automated people mover (APM) system. The new people mover

25519-576: The time being. Nok Air and PBair were undecided, but Nok Air later relocated all flights to Don Mueang, where they operate today. As of January 2010, only Nok Air and One-Two-GO operated domestic flights from Don Mueang Airport. PBair have ceased operations altogether. One-Two-GO was integrated into Orient Thai Airlines in July 2010, but continues to operate from Don Mueang Airport. As of 1 October 2012, Air Asia has moved all of its Bangkok operations to Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Airports of Thailand found that

25688-547: The total population of which is 14,626,225 (2010 census). Bangkok is a cosmopolitan city; the census showed that it is home to 567,120 expatriates from Asian countries (including 71,024 Chinese and 63,069 Japanese nationals), 88,177 from Europe, 32,241 from the Americas, 5,856 from Oceania and 5,758 from Africa. Migrants from neighbouring countries include 216,528 Burmese, 72,934 Cambodians and 52,498 Lao. In 2018, numbers show that there are 370,000 international migrants registered with

25857-407: The water, leading the city to be known during the 19th century as the " Venice of the East". Many of these canals have since been filled in or paved over, but others still criss-cross the city, serving as major drainage channels and transport routes. Most canals are now badly polluted, although the BMA has committed to the treatment and cleaning up of several canals. The geology of the Bangkok area

26026-405: The world's most visited city consistently in several international rankings. Bangkok's rapid growth coupled with little urban planning has resulted in a haphazard cityscape and inadequate infrastructure. Despite an extensive expressway network , an inadequate road network and substantial private car usage have led to chronic and crippling traffic congestion , which caused severe air pollution in

26195-400: The world's tallest free-standing control tower (132.2 metres or 434 feet) from 2006 to 2014 and the world's fourth largest single-building airport terminal (563,000 square metres or 6,060,000 square feet). Suvarnabhumi is the 17th busiest airport in the world , eleventh busiest airport in Asia , and the busiest in the country , having handled 60 million passengers in 2017, and is also

26364-417: The worsening financial situation." Thai reported a net loss of 4.68 billion baht in the third quarter of 2019 and a 10.91 billion baht net loss for the first nine months of 2019. Thai's president lamented that, "...such losses were normal for airlines amid fierce competition and price dumping to win customers," a statement contradicted by the performance of other airlines in the region such as VietJet Air . At

26533-493: The wrong information, resulting in confused passengers (especially as unlike Don Mueang, there were no "final calls" issued). Months after its opening, issues of congestion, construction quality, signage, provision of facilities, and soil subsidence continued to plague the project, prompting calls to reopen Don Mueang to allow for repairs to be made. Expert opinions varied widely on the extent of Suvarnabhumi's problems as well as their root cause. Most airlines stated that damage to

26702-412: Was Japan Airlines at 03:30. The first passenger arrival was Aerosvit flight VV171 from Kyiv at 04:30, and the first cargo departure was Saudi Arabian Airlines flight SV-984 to Riyadh at 05:00. Aerosvit also had the first passenger departure (VV172 to Kyiv) around 05:30. Difficulties were reported in the first few days of the airport's operation. On the first day alone, sluggish luggage handling

26871-399: Was announced at UNESCO . Suvarnabhumi accounted for the largest share of air traffic at Thailand's airports in 2023, handling 51.7 million passengers in 2023, up by 80 percent from the previous year despite its passenger capacity of only 45 million a year. The 30 billion baht Suvarnabhumi Airport Link was opened on 23 August 2010, after multiple delays. The Airport Rail Link (ARL)

27040-467: Was appointed as acting president of Thai Airways effective 11 April 2020. The Thai government stepped in to provide THAI with a 50bn baht loan guarantee in April 2020 and reaffirmed the airline's status as a state enterprise . The move was taken in the absence of a "get well" plan. A week later, the bailout loan was withdrawn and the cabinet replaced it with a plan to have Thai file with the Central Bankruptcy Court for debt restructuring . As of March 2021,

27209-426: Was common—the first passenger arrival by Aerosvit took an hour for the luggage to start coming out, and some flights did not have their luggage coming out even after four hours. Flights were delayed (Thai Airways claimed that 17 of 19 flights were delayed that day), and there were failures with the check-in system. Subsequent problems included the failure of the cargo computer system, and the departure boards displaying

27378-458: Was developed to mediate between the interior and exterior climate, dealing with noise and temperature transmission, while still allowing natural flow of daylight into building along with views of greenery outside. The airport was ranked number 48 among the world's top 100 airports in 2020. Other ASEAN airports in 2020 were ranked: Changi Airport , 1; Kuala Lumpur International Airport , 63; Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta , 35; Hanoi , 87. Suvarnabhumi

27547-437: Was expected to be completed by April 2023. The plan was to strengthen Suvarnabhumi Airport's position as a regional aviation hub. Phase Two would raise the airport's capacity to 65 million passengers a year and would be undertaken in parallel with the construction of a new domestic terminal. The new domestic terminal will be intended to accommodate more than 30 million passengers annually. The two expansion projects are part of

27716-509: Was likely a colloquial name, albeit one widely adopted by foreign visitors , who continued to use it to refer to the city even after the new capital's establishment. When King Rama I established his new capital on the river's eastern bank, the city inherited Ayutthaya's ceremonial name, of which there were many variants, including Krung Thep Thawarawadi Si Ayutthaya ( กรุงเทพทวารวดีศรีอยุธยา ) and Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Si Ayutthaya ( กรุงเทพมหานครศรีอยุธยา ). Edmund Roberts , visiting

27885-589: Was provided by Siemens using the NeoVAL technology. The new satellite terminal has a total of 28 gates, with eight for the Airbus A380 and Boeing B747-800 super jumbo jet. Spanning around 251,400 square meters, it will increase the airport's annual passenger handling capacity from 45 million to 60 million. The SAT-1 terminal was nominated as one of six airport terminals for the Prix Versailles World's Most Beautiful Airports Architectural Award for 2024, which

28054-512: Was ranked 46 in 2019, 38 in 2017 and 36 in 2016. According to the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) in 2018, the airport's ranking had not improved over the past six years. Customer complaints included lengthy immigration waiting times, transit day room issues, insufficient numbers of chairs and phone charging points, insufficient English-speaking staff, and poor information displays. As of 18 April 2024,

28223-588: Was restricted from the 1930s and effectively ceased after the Chinese Communist Revolution in 1949. Their prominence subsequently declined as younger generations of Thai Chinese integrated and adopted a Thai identity . Bangkok is still nevertheless home to a large Chinese community, with the greatest concentration in Yaowarat , Bangkok's Chinatown . Religion in Bangkok The majority (93 per cent) of

28392-427: Was the centre of Siam's modernization as it faced pressure from Western powers in the late-19th century. The reigns of Kings Mongkut (Rama IV, r. 1851–68) and Chulalongkorn (Rama V, r. 1868–1910) saw the introduction of the steam engine, printing press, rail transport and utilities infrastructure in the city, as well as formal education and healthcare. Bangkok became the centre stage for power struggles between

28561-505: Was the first Asia-Pacific airline to serve Heathrow Airport . Among Asia-Pacific carriers, the company has one of the largest passenger operations in Europe serving 11 airports. As of 2024, the longest route THAI operates is the Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Heathrow Airport (LHR) (9,576 km [5,950 mi]). As of 2013, services between Bangkok and Los Angeles were served via Incheon International Airport near Seoul until

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