Surat Thani Airport: A Compact Transport Hub

Surat Thani International Airport is located in Hua Toei subdistrict, Phunphin district, Surat Thani province in Southern Thailand. The airport is 21 kilometres west of downtown Surat Thani and is also an active Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base. It is the tenth-busiest airport in Thailand in terms of passenger traffic, handling over two million passengers annually. The airport features a single paved runway, which was expanded in 1993 to accommodate larger commercial flights and military operations. While the exact dimensions of the airport are not publicly available, it is considered a small airport by travellers, and its predecessor, Donnok Airport, was located just 3 kilometres away with a single runway.

The airport is 21km west of downtown Surat Thani

Surat Thani International Airport is located 21 kilometres west of downtown Surat Thani, in the Hua Toei subdistrict of Phunphin district, in the Surat Thani province of Southern Thailand. The airport is also home to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) squadrons and is an active RTAF base.

The airport is relatively small, with a single paved runway, and is the tenth-busiest airport in Thailand in terms of passenger numbers, handling over two million passengers annually. Its predecessor, Donnok Airport, was located just 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) from Surat Thani City. This original airport had a single gravel-paved runway, only 800 metres long, which was later expanded by the RTAF to 1,000 metres. However, even after this expansion, it could only accommodate small planes like the Douglas DC-3.

Due to the close proximity of Donnok Airport to Surat Thani City, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) decided to build a new airport further from the city centre. A former military airfield from World War II was chosen as the site for the new Surat Thani International Airport. Despite initial interest from the Ministry of Defence and the CAAT, the airfield's development was suspended in 1973, and funds were redirected to support Phuket International Airport. It wasn't until 1978 that development on the new airport finally began, and it officially opened on 15 April 1981.

The new airport featured a single runway, 2,500 metres in length. Over time, this runway was expanded to accommodate larger commercial flights and military operations. Today, the airport continues to undergo upgrades to enhance its capacity and infrastructure.

Surat Thani Airport is an active RTAF base

Surat Thani Airport is an international airport in Hua Toei subdistrict, Phunphin district, Surat Thani province in Southern Thailand. In addition to its civilian services, Surat Thani Airport is an active Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base. It is home to the 4th Air Division/7th Wing Air Combat Command, with two squadrons: 701 Squadron, "Shark", which flies twelve SAAB JAS-39 C/D Gripen fighter aircraft, and 702 Squadron, which operates two airborne early warning (AEW) and two transport SAAB SF340 airplanes, with two more SF340s on order.

The airport is 21 kilometres west of downtown Surat Thani and is the tenth-busiest airport in Thailand in terms of passenger numbers, handling over two million passengers annually. It has a single paved runway, which was expanded in 1993 to support larger commercial flights and military operations. The RTAF also expanded the runway of the airport's predecessor, Donnok Airport, from 800 metres to 1,000 metres, allowing it to handle small planes such as the Douglas DC-3.

The RTAF has a long history, dating back to the early 20th century when Belgian pilot Charles Van Den Born performed a flying demonstration over Bangkok in 1911, impressing Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, brother of King Vajiravudh. This led to the establishment of an aviation group and an air base at Don Muang, which was assigned to the Royal Aeronautical Service under Army control. During the Vietnam War era, the RTAF received equipment aid from the USAF, and in the late 1980s, Don Muang Air Base outside Bangkok remained one of the primary operational installations. By 2004, the RTAF had its main base at Don Muang Airport, adjacent to Don Mueang International Airport.

The RTAF maintains several modern bases constructed between 1954 and 1968, with permanent buildings and ground support equipment. They are primarily responsible for protecting international airports in insurgent areas and providing light infantry for anti-hijacking capabilities. The RTAF also serves as a special operations regiment with various units such as the Combat Control Team (CCT), Pararescue Jumpers (PJs), and Tactical Air Control Party (TACP).

The airport is the tenth-busiest in Thailand

Surat Thani International Airport is the tenth-busiest airport in Thailand, handling over two million passengers annually. The airport is located in Hua Toei subdistrict, Phunphin district, Surat Thani province, and is approximately 21 kilometres west of downtown Surat Thani.

The airport serves as a hub for several airlines, including AirAsia, Nok Air, Spring Airlines, Thai AirAsia, Thai Smile, and Thai Lion Air. It also offers charter flights by Nordwind Airlines. With flights connecting to various destinations within Thailand, such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Suvarnabhumi, and Don Mueang, as well as international locations like Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Russia, and Chengdu in China, it's no surprise that Surat Thani Airport accommodates a large number of passengers.

In addition to its commercial role, Surat Thani Airport is also an active Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base. It is home to the 4th Air Division/7th Wing Air Combat Command, which includes the 701 "Shark" Squadron and the 702 Squadron. The airport has a single paved runway, which was expanded in 1993 to accommodate larger commercial flights and military operations.

To cater to the growing number of passengers, the Department of Airports (DOA) has announced plans to upgrade the airport's infrastructure. These improvements include expanding the airport's apron to increase its capacity for more Boeing 737s, enlarging the terminal to accommodate up to 3.6 million passengers annually, and enhancing the car park to handle a higher volume of vehicles.

Surat Thani Airport also provides various facilities to meet the essential needs of travellers. These include a waiting area, parking spaces, ticket counters for the serving airlines, snack stalls, and retail outlets. Additionally, airport buses are available to transport passengers to and from the city centre and other nearby destinations, such as Koh Samui, Pang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Phangan.

It handles over 2 million passengers annually

Surat Thani International Airport, located in Southern Thailand, is a busy aviation hub, catering to over 2 million passengers each year. This makes it the tenth-busiest airport in Thailand in terms of passenger numbers. The airport's single runway supports both commercial flights and military operations, with the facility serving as an active base for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF).

The airport's annual passenger volume of 2 million is a significant milestone, reflecting the airport's growth and importance in the region. This figure represents the number of individuals passing through the airport's gates, either departing or arriving on flights. It does not include those who may be seeing off or picking up passengers or those transiting through the airport without actually passing through the gates.

Surat Thani Airport's ability to handle such a large volume of passengers is a testament to its efficient infrastructure and operations. The airport has undergone expansions and upgrades over the years to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. In 1993, the runway was extended to support larger aircraft, and plans for further enhancements have been announced.

The airport serves as a gateway to the Surat Thani province and beyond, connecting travellers to their final destinations. Many passengers arriving at the airport utilise bus and ferry services to reach their desired locations, particularly those travelling to nearby islands such as Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan.

With its annual passenger count exceeding 2 million, Surat Thani International Airport plays a crucial role in facilitating travel and tourism in the region. The airport's ongoing development and improvements aim to enhance its capacity and efficiency, ensuring a seamless experience for the growing number of travellers passing through its doors.

The airport's predecessor was known as Donnok Airport

Surat Thani International Airport in Hua Toei, Phunphin, Surat Thani, Thailand, is a busy airport that also serves as an active Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base. The airport is located 21 kilometres west of downtown Surat Thani and handles over two million passengers annually, making it the tenth busiest airport in Thailand.

The development of the new Surat Thani International Airport began in 1978 after residents and the Ministry of Defence called for a new airfield in 1975. The new airport opened on 15 April 1981, with a single runway measuring 2,500 metres in length. Over the years, the airport has undergone several upgrades to accommodate larger commercial flights and military operations.

In 1993, a significant expansion plan was announced by the Department of Airports, including expanding the apron, terminal, car park, and strengthening the runway. Surat Thani International Airport continues to serve both civilian and military purposes, with the 4th Air Division/7th Wing Air Combat Command of the RTAF operating from the base.

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