Check-in Opens for Bangkok Airport Link

It has taken more than four years, but Suvarnabhumi Airport now has a fully functional Airport Rail Link. People arriving in Thailand can now take an express train from the airport to downtown Bangkok in just only 15 minutes. Also this week saw the official opening of the check-in service at Makkasan Station. This now allows people to check-in their luggage before boarding the train in Bangkok and they then don’t need to worry about it until they arrive at their destination country. Sounds great, but this service is not going to be ideal or even convenient for everyone.

The Bangkok Post reported that on the first day that only 11 passengers and four bags were actually processed here. Not surprising as the check-in is only available for passengers of THAI International and Bangkok Airways. So, no good if you are going to fly THAI to say Chiang Mai. However, there are plans to increase more airlines at a later date. A secondary problem is that there is no easy access to Makkasan Station. There is an MRT underground station nearby but you have to drag your bags along uneven sidewalks to get there. Again there is a plan for a skybridge but it won’t be completed until mid-2011.


Up to now they have been doing trial runs. I went for a ride back in June and you can see my report over at MyThailandBlog.com. There are basically two lines; the City Line which is for local commuters and takes 30 minutes and the Express Line that takes only 15 minutes. And that is fast! The prices have also gone up now that the trial period is over. The City Line is from 15-45 baht and the Express Line is 150 baht. You can join the City Line at Phaya Thai Station [see MAP] and I am told that the skybridge there from the sky train has now been completed.

The problem with Bangkok is that there isn’t really a downtown area or even a city center. So, if you take the Airport Rail link to either Makkasan or Phaya Thai, you will probably have to change to other transport like BTS Skytrain, MRT Underground or even a taxi. The same for going to the airport. Most people will have to take a taxi to Makkasan as the BTS and MRT are not really that convenient for suitcases. But, if there are two or more of you, then you might as well go all the way to the airport in the taxi as the fare will be less than 300 baht. What do you think? Will you use the Airport Link?

(Top photo: Bangkok Post)

* Tourism Thailand’s tourism industry to reach 15.8 millions visitors

Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand predicted that by the end of 2010, Thailand would have attracted 15.7 million to 15.8 million visitors, earning the country an estimated 19.3 billion dollars in revenues.

According to preliminary data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, international tourist arrivals in January to November rose to 14 million.


The Tourism Authority of Thailand projects that annual tourist arrivals for 2010 will be about 15.8 million, an increase of 12% from the 14 million visitors who visited Thailand in 2009 .

The details of visitor arrival trends in January – November 2010:

EAST ASIA: Arrivals grew by 15.14% to 7.17 million. Arrivals from Malaysia, China, and Korea were up strongly though arrivals from Japan have slightly declined. Overall growth from the region is expected to remain strong, especially to popular Thai beach resorts.

EUROPE: Arrivals grew by 8.15% to 3.8 million. Countries that reported higher than 5% growth were Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Russia, and Eastern Europe. Markets that did not do so well are UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, Finland, and Belgium due to poor economic conditions.

THE AMERICAS: Arrivals grew by a fractional 0.18% to 758,902 due to the economic conditions. The main market, the US, declined by -1.40% to 549,722. Arrivals from Canada were down -0.92%. However, arrivals from Brazil returned to strong positive growth (16.76%).

SOUTH ASIA: Arrivals surged by a strong 22.78% to 903,663 with all markets doing well, except Pakistan which has been affected by flooding and domestic political issues. India, however, has become a primary market with arrivals up by 26.31% to 690,374, making it the region’s fastest growing market. Thailand is receiving increasing attention in the Indian market, especially among tour groups and niche-market segments; such as, wedding and honeymoon, and film-making. This market is projected to show continued growth in 2011.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will look more toward emerging markets next year, particularly Indonesia, Brazil and Argentina after seeing large potential in these countries.

TAT governor Suraphon Svetasreni said emerging economies would expand more next year on the back of an expected slowdown in the European and US markets.

For the Indian market, honeymoons and wedding groups remain an interesting market. In the first 10 months, arrivals from India numbered 604,942, up 22.3% year-on-year, while arrivals from China rose 49% to 885,301.

At the same time, arrivals from Brazil totaled 16,010, up by 13.7%, while Argentinians numbered 8,161, up 35%. The TAT believes figures for both countries will rise dramatically next year.
Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport has officially launched its Airport Link and check-in service from downtown Makkasan station.

Permanent Secretary for Transport Supoj Saplom said that while the service is now fully operational, passenger fares will be raised and only three airlines are currently using the train check-in services.

Airlines wishing to join THAI Airlines, Bangkok Airways and Lufthansa, in operating a check-in service on the train, can contact the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to apply, according to Mr Saplom.

The Airport rail link has been trialling since August of last year with discounted fares for travellers, although check-in downtown has only become available in the New Year.

Two lines operate on the new Airport Link, a City Line (30 mins one-way) and an Express Line (15 mins one-way).