By 6 major international airports in Thailand consists of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport, and Phuket International Airport. They are managed by Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT). For the other airports, they are operated by The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), individual airlines, or Royal Thai Navy.
List of International Airports in Thailand
Suvarnabhumi Internaltional Airport
ท่าอากาศยานสุวรรณภูมิ
(Operated by AOT)
Suvarnabhumi Airport is located in Samut Prakan Province, 25 km. from Bangkok. It is the second international airport for Bangkok after Don Mueang International Airport. It begins operation in 2006 and replaces Don Mueang as a new Bangkok international airport. Aimed to be a hub of Asia-Pacific, Suvarnabhumi Airport ranks 20 in the world’s busiest airport in 2016.
The airport connects the center of Bangkok by Airport Rail Link (ARL). There are 2 interchange stations at Phaya Thai (linking BTS Station) and Makkasan (linking Phetchaburi MRT Station.
Don Mueang International Airport
ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง
(Operated by AOT)
Don Mueang Airport, or previously called Bang Kean Field, is Thailand’s first international airport operated in 1914. It used to be called Bangkok International Airport before becoming Don Mueang International Airport. After Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2006, Don Mueang had become domestic airport. However, as the amounts of passengers are growing, Thai government appointed Don Mueang Airport to serve international flights again in 2012.
Getting in to the city center from Don Mueang is very easy by a shuttle bus which will drop you at 4 main points in Bangkok including Siam, Chatujak Market, Victory Monument and Sanam Luang.
Chiang Mai International Airport
ท่าอากาศยานเชียงใหม่
(Operated by AOT)
Located 4 km. away from Chiang Mai Province‘s city center in Sutep Sub District, Chiang Mai International Airport is a hub of air transportation in the north of Thailand. It is also the 4th busiest airport in Thailand after Phuket International Airport which ranks No. 3.
Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport
ท่าอากาศยานแม่ฟ้าหลวง เชียงราย
(Operated by AOT)
Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai Airport is located in Ban Du Sub District, 8 km. away from Chiang Rai Province‘s city center in the north of Thailand. It officially operated in 1993. Nowadays, there are 4 main airlines operating at this airport. Getting in to the city center from the airport is easy by private cars.
Hat Yai International Airport
ท่าอากาศยานหาดใหญ่
(Operated by AOT)
Hat Yai Airport is in Song Khla Province in the south of Thailand. It is the essential for Muslims populations in Thailand who want to pursue their faith in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Hat Yai is also an important city in the southern part as an economic area and rich of culture of Muslim and Buddhist.
Phuket International Airport
ท่าอากาศยานภูเก็ต
(Operated by AOT)
Phuket Airport is in Phuket Province and it is the 3rd busiest airport in Thailand. This is an important airport for who want to travel around Phuket Island. Located 32 km. away from the center of Phuket City, there are many ways to get to city center such as taxi bike, taxi, microbus and limousine.
Samui Airport
ท่าอากาศยานสมุย
(Operated by Bangkok Airways)
Samui Airport once was a coconut field located on north west of Samui Island in Bopud Sub District, Surat Thani Province. It is 23 km. away from city center. The airport is the popular destination for travelers who wish to go to Pagnan island. There is a new shopping street between passenger halls in the airport called Samui Park Avenue where passengers can enjoy shopping, restaurants and café with internet.
Krabi International Airport
ท่าอากาศยานนานาชาติกระบี่
(Operated by CAAT)
Krabi Airport is located on Petch Kasem road, Nuea Klong district, Krabi Province, about 7 km. east of the city center. It is also very close to Trang province. Krabi is a famous tourist destination with beautiful beaches and nature.
Udon Thani International Airport
ท่าอากาศยานอุดรธานี
(Operated by CAAT)
Udon Thani Airport is a hub in the upper north eastern region of Thailand. It is located in the area of Royal Thai Air Force in Udon Thani Province. The airport is near special economic zone between Nong Kai Province and Vientiane of Laos. So, this airport is very important area of border economic development strategy.
Surat Thani Airport
ท่าอากาศยานสุราษฎร์ธานี
(Operated by CAAT)
Surat Thani Airport is located 21 km. west of city center in Punpin district, Surat Thani Province in the south of Thailand. There are rental car services, restaurants and café provided in the airport. And free of parking fee. Most of the tourists who want to go to Pagnan Island land at this airport.
U-Tapao International Airport
ท่าอากาศยานนานาชาติอู่ตะเภา
(Royal Thai Navy)
U-Tapao Airport is located between Chonburi and Rayong Province. It is operated under authority of Thai Navy. It was a very important airport during Vietnamese War when US military used this location as military base. After, the war ended, U-Tapao becomes a commerce airport.
Recommended Articles on Thailand
- Thailand Airport : International Airports in Thailand
- Thailand Transportation : Types of Transportation in Thailand
- Thailand Tourism : 15 Things to do in Thailand
- Thailand Tourism : 10 Tourist Places to Visit in Thailand
