Suthin Kongchoodi, a 33-year-old hospital maintenance worker, travelled six hours by bus from north-eastern Thailand to Bangkok last weekend for a chance to gawk at the capital’s $3.7bn Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

He has never flown, but Mr Suthin was impressed by the glass and steel passenger terminal, which was crowded with visiting supporters of the ruling Thai Rak Thai party, bused in from across Thailand to view the government’s achievement.