Roberta Aguirre
Koh Samui Airport, also known as Samui International Airport, is a privately owned international airport on the island of Ko Samui in Thailand. It is located in the island's Bo Phut subdistrict, around 2km north of Chaweng, the main resort area. The airport is known for its unique, open-air design, with beautifully designed, eco-conscious, low-level buildings surrounded by lush greenery, creating a relaxed and picturesque atmosphere. With around six million passengers passing through its gates each year, it is Thailand's seventh-busiest airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Samui International Airport, Ko Samui Airport, or Koh Samui Airport |
| IATA Code | USM |
| ICAO Code | VTSM |
| Location | Bo Phut subdistrict, northeast of the island of Ko Samui, Thailand |
| Distance from Chaweng | 1-2 km |
| Distance from Chaweng Beach | 10 minutes |
| Distance from Big Buddha Pier | Nearby |
| Distance from Maenam Beach Pier | 6 km |
| Design | Open-air, eco-conscious, low-level buildings with thatched roofs and lush greenery |
| Features | Gardens, cafes, restaurants, gift shop, ticket office, toilets, VIP lounge, medical centre, lost and found, tour operator counters |
| Transport | Private/shared transfers/taxis, rental cars, local buses, songthaews (shared taxis), ferries |
| Airlines | Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways International, Scoot |
| Passengers | 1 million+ per year |
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What You'll Learn
Location
Samui International Airport, also known as Ko Samui Airport or Koh Samui Airport, is a privately owned international airport on the island of Ko Samui in Thailand. It is located in the island's Bo Phut subdistrict, roughly 2 km north of Chaweng, the island's main city and largest resort centre. Chaweng is a popular destination for travellers, with many opting to stay in the city during their visit to Ko Samui.
The airport is near the Big Buddha Pier, where ferries depart for Ko Pha-ngan. High-speed ferries to Ko Tao and Chumphon depart from the Maenam Beach Pier, approximately 6 km northwest of the airport. The airport is easily accessible from various parts of the island and surrounding areas, making it a convenient gateway to Ko Samui.
Koh Samui Airport has a unique, open-air design, with only a few essential facilities located indoors, including a gift shop, ticket office, toilets, and a VIP lounge area. The airport features both domestic and international terminals, with the international terminal located about 50 metres north of the domestic terminal. This separation allows for efficient passenger processing and facilitates the movement of travellers between different destinations.
Koh Samui Airport is known for its relaxed atmosphere and scenic surroundings. The airport has received accolades for its laid-back ambiance, providing travellers with a calm and pleasant experience. The open-air concept blends seamlessly with the island's natural beauty, creating a welcoming environment for those arriving or departing from Ko Samui.
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Design
Samui Airport, also known as Ko Samui Airport or Koh Samui Airport, is a privately owned international airport on the island of Ko Samui in Thailand. It is located in the Bo Phut subdistrict, roughly 2 km north of Chaweng, the island's main city and largest resort centre. The airport was built by Bangkok Airways and opened in 1989. It has a unique, open-air design, with only a few indoor areas, including a gift shop, ticket office, toilets, and a VIP lounge.
The airport has won several awards for its design, including first place in the Outstanding Architecture competition staged by Siam Architects under the patronage of the King of Thailand in 1998. The design impresses visitors with its minimalistic and contemporary Thai architecture, combining the ambiance of a Polynesian resort with an open-air layout that blends with its coconut-plantation surroundings. The terminals feature low-rise buildings with thatched roofs, palm-tree pillars, and walls made of wood and rattan. This design, built with local materials, helps the airport fit sensitively into its environment and reduces the need for air conditioning.
In 2004, the airport began a 500 million baht ($15 million) expansion programme. Six new terminals, designed by Ritta Co Ltd, were opened in 2007, increasing the annual passenger capacity to six million. The new terminals were built to look and feel like a tropical resort, maintaining the aesthetics of the airport while accommodating more passengers.
Koh Samui Airport has been described by visitors as "the most beautiful airport in the world," showcasing how thoughtful design can enhance the airport experience and create a unique and memorable impression.
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Transport
Koh Samui Airport, also known as Samui International Airport (IATA: USM), is located on the island of Ko Samui in Thailand. The airport is privately owned by Bangkok Airways, which has a near-monopoly on domestic flights. This makes flying to and from Koh Samui relatively expensive compared to other destinations in Thailand. However, travellers praise the airline for its generous luggage allowance and the airport's unique, open-air design.
To get to Koh Samui, you have two options: by plane or by boat. The island's airport is served by British Airways and its partner airline Qatar, offering direct flights to Koh Samui from London with a layover in Doha. These flights take around 15 hours and include a generous baggage allowance.
You can also fly to Koh Samui from other locations in Thailand, such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, or Bangkok. A one-way ticket from these cities typically costs around $100. However, keep in mind that Bangkok Airways owns the airport, so you won't be able to use a low-cost carrier for these flights.
If you prefer to travel by boat, you can book a ticket with a local tour operator. For example, you can travel from Railay Beach in Krabi to Koh Samui, which usually involves a bus, ferry, and taxi ride. However, be aware that these journeys can sometimes be longer and more complicated than expected, involving multiple transfers.
Once you're on the island, the best way to get around Koh Samui is by hiring your own scooter, which gives you freedom and flexibility. However, if you're not confident or experienced with scooters, there are other options, such as taxis.
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Airlines
Samui International Airport, also known as Ko Samui Airport or Koh Samui Airport, is a privately owned international airport located on the island of Ko Samui in Thailand. The airport is owned and operated by Bangkok Airways, which has a near-monopoly on flights. As a result, most flights from the island are operated by Bangkok Airways.
Between 2008 and 2018, Thai Airways International also offered two daily flights from Bangkok, with a capacity of 149 passengers. These flights targeted European tourists making stopovers in the capital. In 2024, Scoot launched a new Singapore-Koh Samui route operated by the Embraer E190 jet.
The airport features a unique, open-air design, with indoor areas including a gift shop, ticket office, toilets, and a VIP lounge area. It is located near the Big Buddha Pier and Maenam Beach Pier, offering ferry connections to nearby islands.
Koh Samui Airport is the seventh-busiest airport in Thailand, serving over a million passengers annually. It has both domestic and international terminals, with the international terminal located approximately 50 meters north of the domestic terminal.
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Passenger experience
The airport code for Koh Samui Airport (also known as Samui International Airport) is USM. It is the fifth-largest airport in Thailand and is located in the northern part of the island near Bo Phut Beach. The airport is owned by Bangkok Airways, which offers the majority of flights to and from Koh Samui. Many international airlines also offer codeshares via Bangkok Airways.
Koh Samui Airport is known for its friendly and helpful staff and efficient check-in processes, with a typical wait time of 10-15 minutes. However, passengers should plan for longer wait times during busy travel seasons and after Full Moon Parties on nearby Koh Phangan. The airport provides various facilities to maximise passenger comfort and convenience. For example, there are multiple currency exchange counters and ATMs located throughout the airport, as well as a dedicated lost and found service.
Passengers can also take advantage of the complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi available throughout the airport and relax in premium lounges during layovers. For Bangkok Airways passengers, there are complimentary refreshments available at the gate, as well as access to a lounge for business class passengers.
In terms of transportation, several car rental companies operate at Samui International Airport, and it is recommended to book in advance for the best rates and availability. While public transport is limited, local buses or songthaews (shared taxis) are cheap options for getting around the island. Chaweng Beach is just a 10-minute drive from the airport, and Koh Phangan can be accessed by ferry from a nearby port.
Overall, Koh Samui Airport offers a smooth and memorable travel experience, with convenient connections to a network of domestic and international destinations.
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Frequently asked questions
USM
Samui International Airport
Koh Samui Airport is located in the Bo Phut subdistrict, in the northeast of the island.
Koh Samui Airport is known for its beautiful design, featuring eco-conscious, low-level buildings surrounded by lush greenery and wide green spaces. It has an open-air concept, with thatched roofs, creating a relaxed and eco-friendly atmosphere.
