A new terminal and fourth runway could double Suvarnabhumi airport's annual passenger capacity to 120 million within the next seven years, according to Airports of Thailand's (AOT) plan for the airport.

AOT president Paweena Jariyathitipong said on Monday that the airport's existing annual capacity was about 60 million passengers, comprising 45 million at its main terminal and 15 million at the SAT-1 terminal.

Ms Paweena said AOT would soon propose the latest development plan for Suvarnabhumi airport to the cabinet, along with its East Expansion project.

The development plan includes construction of a southern terminal and the airport's fourth runway, with both projects expected to be completed within six to seven years, she said.

The project is expected to take four years to complete and will expand service areas, including check-in counters and baggage conveyor belts, to accommodate at least 10 million passengers annually.

Together, the projects are expected to increase the annual passenger capacity of the airport to 120 million, Ms Paweena said.

The airport will introduce a premium service for VIPs this month to cater to businesspeople, celebrities and customers with special needs, in addition to a fast-track immigration lane.

The Don Mueang airport budget for its third-phase development plan would increase from 36 billion baht, set in 2022, to 69 billion baht. The plan is expected to raise the airport's annual passenger capacity to 40 million.