Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok
Integration across Company Boundaries
When Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport went into operation in September 2006, it became one of the most highly integrated airports in the world. At the heart of the operational integration is the Airport Operational Database from UFIS Airport Solutions (UFIS-AS). As part of the Airport Information Management System, the AODB together with the information broker provides the integration platform for more than 50 systems at the airport. But if the limit of integration was just systems operated by the airport company itself, the gains in efficiency would also be limited. The collaborative concept of the Universal Flight Information System (UFIS®) is to provide a single source of data that all companies operating at the airport use. The collaboration of airport operator, airlines, ground handlers and other stakeholders providing services to passengers through access to this single source means that the gains in efficiency can be much higher. In Bangkok and other airports where UFIS® is used, the information stored in the AODB is used to assist the passenger in every way possible to make his or her airport experience smooth and enjoyable.
Public Information Services
Even before he or she arrives at the airport, systems with access to this single source of data are available to assist the passenger. This can be as simple as the airport's website showing up-to-the-minute information on the status of a flight which the passenger can access before leaving home or via a PDA or mobile phone. With access to the information in the AODB a service informing a passenger of the status of his or her flight via SMS can be provided.
Multimodal Transportation
When the railway link to Suvarnabhumi Airport is open (scheduled for December 2009), passengers will be able to see the status of their flight before they board the train to the airport. As a collaborative partner to Siemens, UFIS-AS is delivering an Information Display System to the State Railway of Thailand with integration to the AODB at the airport. In this way the passengers can see the most up-to-date information on their flight long before they arrive at the airport. A module within the display system is also available to enable the use of any display device that can support a browser, providing an unrivalled degree of flexibility for the customer. Wireless or Internet communication could also be used to provide this information to airport shuttle busses and other off-airport locations.
Ground Operations
If airports didn't work closely together with the airlines using the airport, chaos would be the likely result. The airport operator in Bangkok not only provides the necessary infrastructure for the airlines to handle their passengers efficiently, they have gone a step further to provide the airlines' ground handling departments with the information from the AODB. Thus, the ground handlers can be informed immediately of gate and position changes so that they can take the necessary steps to ensure that sufficient ground staff and equipment to handle the aircraft are at the right position and at the right time. In cooperation with SF Systems Thailand Limited, UFIS-AS has provided Thai Airways with the means to manage their ground handling operations at Suvarnabhumi Airport from one central Ground Operations Control Center (GOCC).
The UFIS® applications installed in the GOCC include the Flight Information, Status and Hub Managers as well as 11 interfaces to external systems related to personnel and flight data. Integration with the AODB is an integral part of the system. Based on the real-time information provided through the various interfaces, the Status Manager monitors the various milestones and statuses continuously. In addition, a system to enable status information to be entered via mobile devices is provided. If a deviation occurs, the supervisor is alerted so that the situation can be addressed and staff can intervene before the passengers are adversely affected.
The Flight Data Tool (FDT) helps to evaluate the number of meals for each flight. The deviation between the planned order and the actual number of checked-in passengers is reported and can be easily seen in the FDT. Users can quickly correct the order, ensuring that each passenger has a meal and none is wasted.
The Hub Manager helps to ensure smooth and seamless handling of passengers and cargo transferring between flights and terminals. It provides and evaluates passenger, baggage, cargo and mail transfer data and highlights all affected flights. Thus the airline's or ground handler's staff can already plan to cater for passengers needs resulting from a tight, delayed or missed connection.
Ranked in Top 10 Most-On-Time Airports
Suvarnabhumi Airport was also ranked number 5 in Forbes Traveler's 2009 List of World's Most On-Time Airports. Up from number 6 in 2008, Suvarnabhumi had 84.4% of its flights arrive and depart on time. This rating reflects the 82.9% of on-time arrivals and 86% of on-time departures. Forbes called this an impressive figure given that BKK is one of the world's 20 busiest airports. It was ranked 18th in total passenger traffic according to Airport Council International.
Suvarnabhumni Airport currently handles 245,719 aircraft movements, 38.6 million passengers and 1.17 million tons of cargo a year.
To see the pictures in more detail - please click on them.
- Success Story Bangkok
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