Owais Crawford
Thailand has 38 to 39 commercial airports, including 6 to 10 international airports, serving both domestic and international destinations. Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as Bangkok Airport, is the largest and busiest airport in the country and one of the largest in Asia. Phuket International Airport is also one of the busiest airports in the world, serving the Phuket region of Bangkok. Chiang Mai International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Thailand, offering convenient access to the north of the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of commercial service airports | 39 |
| Number of international airports | 10 |
| Number of primary hub airports | 1 |
| Number of secondary hub airports | Not specified |
| Management of 29 airports | Department of Airports (DOA) |
| Management of 7 airports | Airports of Thailand (AOT) |
| Management of 3 airports | Bangkok Airways (BA) |
| Management of 1 airport | Royal Thai Navy (RTNV) |
| Main hub for international and domestic flights | Suvarnabhumi Airport |
| Third busiest airport | Phuket Airport |
| Fourth busiest airport | Chiang Mai International Airport |
| U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport | Managed by the Royal Thai Navy |
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What You'll Learn
Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi International Airport, also known as Bangkok Airport, is the most important airport in Thailand. It is also the busiest and largest airport in the country and one of the biggest international airports in Southeast Asia. Suvarnabhumi Airport is located mostly in Racha Thewa subdistrict, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province, covering an area of 3,240 ha (32.4 km2; 8,000 acres). The airport is a regional hub for aviation and a major cargo air freight hub, ranked as the 20th busiest in 2019. It serves as a gateway to Thailand for international travellers, with six local airlines using the airport as a base for domestic flights.
Suvarnabhumi Airport has two runways, with a third runway already proposed for construction. It has a large H-shaped terminal building with 360 check-in counters and over 100 gates, including 51 fixed gates. The terminal is designed for an annual capacity of around 45 million passengers, although this has been exceeded several times in the past. The airport offers a range of facilities for passengers, including business-class lounges, luxury hotels, ATMs, currency exchange centres, and rest zones.
The airport is easily accessible via public transportation, with several bus routes connecting the airport to the city. Shuttle bus services are also available, with six lines: A, B, C, D, Express, and F.
Suvarnabhumi Airport officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September 2006. The airport replaced Don Mueang Airport as the primary airport in Bangkok. The name "Suvarnabhumi" is Sanskrit for "land of gold" or "realm of gold", chosen by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej to celebrate the tradition of the ancient city of U Thong, which is believed to be the origin of the Indianised Dvaravati culture.
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Phuket International Airport
The airport has three terminals and a separate terminal for international and domestic flights. IndiGo and other airlines offer flights to Phuket International Airport, providing good connectivity. Passengers can easily get taxis or buses for transfers to their destinations. The airport also offers car rental services, which can be booked in advance through the Sawasdee by AOT Application.
For those who prefer not to drive, there is a convenient airport bus service with stops throughout the city, departing every hour. The Smart Bus service is also available at the Domestic Terminal, catering to tourists visiting the beaches.
The airport has a notable history, with several aircraft incidents occurring over the years, including a Thai Airways Company Boeing 737-200 crash in 1985 and a One-Two-Go Airlines Flight crash in 2007.
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Surat Thani Airport
Thailand has 39 commercial service airports, 10 of which are international airports. The Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok is the largest and most important airport in Thailand. Phuket International Airport is also notable for its aesthetic appeal and is ranked as one of the busiest airports in the world.
One of the international airports in Thailand is Surat Thani International Airport, located in Tambon Hua Toei, Amphoe Phunphin, Surat Thani province in Southern Thailand. It is about 21 kilometres (13 miles) west of downtown Surat Thani. The airport is also home to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) squadrons. It is the tenth-busiest airport in Thailand, handling over two million passengers annually.
The original airport, Donnok Airport, was located only 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) from Surat Thani City. It had a single gravel-paved runway, 800 metres long, which was later expanded to 1,000 metres by the RTAF. However, this runway could still only handle small planes. Due to the original airport's proximity to Surat Thani, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) planned a new airport further from the city.
The new airport was officially opened on 15 April 1981. It had a single runway, 2,500 metres long, which was expanded in 1993 to accommodate larger commercial flights and military operations. The airport terminal will be expanded to accommodate up to 3.6 million passengers a year, and the car park will be expanded to handle up to 700 cars. Surat Thani Airport offers a few shops, free wifi, and is easily reachable by bus, taxi, or minivan.
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Chiang Mai International Airport
The airport has a domestic and international terminal in a single building. It is less than 10 minutes by taxi from the city center. Chiang Mai Airport offers car rental services for passengers who wish to travel into the city or continue their journey while maintaining privacy, speed, and safety. These services are available on the first floor of the airport, and passengers can book car rentals in advance at special prices through the Sawasdee by AOT Application.
As of 2018, 31 airlines operated at Chiang Mai International Airport, serving 11 million passengers, 78,210 flights, and 14,612 tons of cargo. The airport underwent upgrades in 2014, including expanding the apron for larger planes, extending operating hours to 24/7, and enlarging the international arrival hall and domestic departure hall. Chiang Mai International Airport has one runway designated 18/36 with an asphalt surface measuring 3,100 by 45 meters. It is at an elevation of 316 meters (1,037 feet) above mean sea level.
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U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport
U-Tapao was originally built by the United States to accommodate B-52 bombers for missions in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Construction began on 15 October 1965 and was completed on 2 June 1966. It was the primary Southeast Asian airfield for USAF B-52 bombers, called "Bee-hasip-sawng" (B-52) by the local Thais.
The airport briefly became Thailand's main air gateway between 26 November and 5 December 2008 due to the blockade of Bangkok's airports by opposition protesters. It has since been considered an alternate international gateway due to its proximity to the capital and the fact that Bangkok's two international airports are operating beyond capacity.
The Thai government has approved expansion plans for U-Tapao, aiming to increase its capacity to 60 million passengers per year. This includes adding a new runway, taxiways, and facilities to enhance Pattaya's and Bangkok's air passenger capacity and boost connections to the Eastern Economic Corridor.
Reviews of the airport on Tripadvisor describe it as a "small, lovely airport" with "friendly and helpful staff" and "abundant food outlets with acceptable prices". However, some travellers have noted the lack of seating and the presence of overpriced taxi services at the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
Suvarnabhumi International Airport, also known as Bangkok Airport, is the most important airport in Thailand. It is also the busiest and largest airport in the country.
Phuket International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Don Mueang Airport, and U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport are some of the other major airports in Thailand.
Suvarnabhumi International Airport is the primary airport in Bangkok, which replaced Don Mueang Airport as the primary airport in 2006.
There are 38-39 commercial airports in Thailand, including 6-10 international airports.
Yes, Indian citizens can obtain a visa on arrival or apply for an eVisa before travelling to Thailand.
