Thailand is pushing ahead with one of the most ambitious aviation buildouts in Southeast Asia, combining a sweeping expansion of its major international hubs with the construction of six brand-new regional airports — and it’s raising the departure fee every outbound international traveler pays to fund the push.
Airports of Thailand (AOT) confirmed this week that the international passenger service charge, known as the PSC, will rise from 730 baht to 1,120 baht per person starting June 20. The 53% increase applies to all outbound international flights from the six airports AOT currently operates: Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang in Bangkok, Phuket, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, and Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai. Domestic fares are unaffected, remaining at 130 baht.
AOT president Paweena Jariyathitipong said the adjustment had been thoroughly studied and follows a resolution from Thailand’s Civil Aviation Board, which approved the increase in December 2025. The change is the first significant revision to the international PSC in roughly two decades. AOT projects the higher charge will generate around 10 billion baht in additional annual revenue, earmarked exclusively for infrastructure development and service upgrades across its airport network.
Critics have already raised questions. A former Democrat Party deputy leader pointed out that Thailand’s new PSC will exceed fees charged at airports in Seoul, Tokyo, and Doha, and questioned whether travelers would see a measurable improvement in the experience at the gate — shorter immigration queues, faster baggage handling, reliable Wi-Fi, and functional self check-in systems. AOT acknowledged the feedback and said service quality improvements are built into the investment plan.
The money is needed. Thailand’s aviation infrastructure is straining under demand it was not built to handle. Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country’s busiest gateway, currently serves around 46 million passengers annually but operates well above its original design capacity. AOT’s expansion plan for Suvarnabhumi includes a 13.8 billion baht eastern terminal expansion aimed at pushing annual capacity to 80 million passengers by 2030, and a future south terminal valued at over 200 billion baht that would eventually support up to 150 million passengers per year once a fourth runway is also complete.
Don Mueang Airport, the low-cost carrier hub, is set for a Phase 3 development worth approximately 69 billion baht that would raise its capacity from 30 million to 40 million passengers annually, with a new international terminal targeted for completion by 2030. Phuket Airport will undergo a second-phase expansion, adding international terminal capacity and lifting the airport’s passenger ceiling from 12.5 million to 18 million per year.
The Transport Ministry, led by Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, has outlined these airport projects as part of a broader 1.38 trillion baht infrastructure plan covering road, rail, air, and water transport. Most of the aviation investments are expected to proceed through public-private partnerships to limit the burden on state finances.
Beyond the existing AOT network, Thailand’s Department of Airports is separately advancing the construction of six entirely new airports in provinces that currently have no air connectivity. The targeted locations are Mukdahan, Bueng Kan, Satun, Phayao, Kalasin, and Phatthalung — a mix of border provinces, northern highland areas, and underserved parts of the south. The six projects are at various stages of development. Mukdahan and Bueng Kan are in design and environmental impact assessment. Satun has completed feasibility studies, with construction planned to begin in 2026 and an opening projected for 2028. Phayao has secured budget for its EIA, while Kalasin and Phatthalung have completed feasibility work and are moving toward design.
Each new airport is expected to accommodate Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 series aircraft. The Satun facility, for example, would cover around 2,797 rai with a 2.5-kilometer runway and a terminal designed around regional motifs. The stated policy goals for the new airports go beyond tourism — officials have pointed to cross-border trade, access to medical hubs, and connectivity with Laos and Myanmar as part of the rationale.
Thailand’s aviation ambitions carry a clear competitive dimension. Vietnam has been aggressively expanding its own airport infrastructure, and regional rivals including Malaysia and Singapore continue to invest heavily in their hubs. Bangkok has been named the best city in Asia for the third consecutive year at the 2026 DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards, and Thailand’s tourism sector depends heavily on the capacity and quality of its airports to translate that brand value into arrivals.
AOT has indicated it is also studying the possibility of introducing PSC charges for transit and transfer passengers — a move that would align Thailand with more than 90% of airports worldwide. No timeline has been set for that proposal.
The June 20 departure fee increase will not require passengers to pay anything extra at the airport directly. The PSC is built into ticket prices, meaning international fares issued on or after that date will automatically reflect the new 1,120 baht rate.
