The Ins and Outs of Thailand Airports

Thailand has long established itself as one of Asia’s tourist mecca. As a result, there is no shortage of air travel even to the remotest part of the country. The following is a list of Thailand airports with added information that would help you decide which airport to fly to in the event you plan to further explore the country outside the capital, Bangkok.

Diligence has been exercised in listing down the information available for each airport, but always check with the concerned airport authorities for any last-minute changes in their flight schedules, reroutes and anticipated delays.

The following are Thailand’s international airports:

• Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX). CNX is the major hub in the northern part of Thailand, and receives international and domestic flights from 21 airlines daily. There are scheduled passenger flights to international airports in Myanmar, Korea, Burma, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Laos, Singapore and Macau.
• Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). The first commercial airport in Bangkok to receive international passengers until it was replaced by the more modern Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in September 2006. DMK reopened in March 2007 after renovations, and is now receiving flights to and from regional airports of the following countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea and starting December 22, 2012, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Cambodia and Singapore. From here, you can also reach other Thailand destinations via domestic flights.
• Hat Yai International Airport (HDY). Serving international flights from Malaysia and Singapore, HDY also receives passengers from Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Hat Yai is the commercial hub of Southern Thailand, and is the melting pot of Thai, Chinese, Malay and Muslim cultures.
• Krabi Airport (KBV). There are daily flights to and from BKK, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and direct flights from Singapore and Darwin in Australia. The airport allows travelers to go to the beaches of Had Yao, Ao Nang, Rai Leh and Koh Lanta.
• Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI). As the northernmost city of Thailand, Chiang Rai is an ideal jump off point to Myanmar and Laos as the airport sits in the area known as the ‘Golden Triangle’ (where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge). There are scheduled passenger flights to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Phuket on a daily basis.
• Phuket International Airport (HKT). Phuket International Airport is the second busiest airport after Suvarnabhumi Airport in terms of passenger (no cargo) capacity. Every day, 56 airlines fly to and from Phuket, processing passengers from capital cities of most countries in the world. The airport has also a landing strip from domestic flights. The airport sometimes experiences congestion, so some passengers might be rerouted from the nearby Krabi Airport.
• Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok is Thailand’s foremost international airport, receiving 101 passenger and 28 cargo airlines daily, and processing 48 million passengers annually (as of 2011). This means that if you are an international traveler coming from cities/countries other than mentioned in DMK destinations, you are likely to land in Suvarnabhumi Airport. If you are in Bangkok and want to explore the outskirts of Thailand, you should head to DMK for connecting domestic flights instead.
• U-Tapao International Airport (UTP). The main hub for the Pattaya province, U-Tapao International Airport serves passengers going to and coming from China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Cambodia. UTP also accepts chartered flights from Russia and services domestic flights from all over Thailand.
• Udon Thani International Airport (UTH). Udon Thani International Airport is both a civilian and military airport. It only serves international flights coming from and going to Laos, and all other domestic flights from Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. It is presently the base of Royal Thai Air Force.

The following are regional and domestic Thailand airports:

• Buriram Airport (BFV). There are scheduled passenger flights to Bangkok on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Buriram is an ideal jump off point to explore ruins of ancient Khmer civilizations in Prasaat Phanom Rung and Prasat Hin Muang Tam.
• Chumphon Airport (CJM) has flights coming in from and going to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport.
• Hua Hin Airport (HHQ) has flights to and from Bangkok on a daily basis. Hua Hin is the gateway to quiet beach resorts and old and beautiful palaces and temples as these used to be the home of the monarchs, including the reigning monarch, King Bhumibol. HHQ flights to BKK only take up to 45 minutes.
• Khon Kaen Airport (KKC) has scheduled destinations to Chiang Mai, BKK  and Luang Prabang in Laos.
• Koh Samui Airport (USM) is served by one airline with flights to BKK, Phuket, Pattaya, Krabi and Singapore. Flight time from BKK to Samui is one hour, whereas flight time to Pattaya and Phuket are less than 45minutes. The airport is only 20 minutes away from Chaweng beaches.
• Lampang Airport (LPT). Lampang Airport is a good jump off point to Chiang Mai via public bus. LPT operates daily flights to and from BKK. Lampang is great for tourists who want to get a different feel of Thailand because the city is known to use horse carriages for transport even today. Lampang is also a gateway to Chae Son National Park where hot springs, caves and waterfalls abound.
• Mae Hong Son Airport (HGN) has daily flights to and from Chiang Mai and BKK. Flight time to Chiang Mai is 30 minutes. Mae Hong Son sits close to the Myanmar border, so the city architecture is Myanmar-influenced. The main attraction of the city is its multi-ethnic atmosphere, the most popular of which are the Padaung hill tribes. Padaung women ‘elongate’ their necks and limbs by using brass coils.
• Mae Sot Airport (MAQ) has scheduled passenger flights to BKK and Chiang Mai. Mae Sot is a great place for sightseeing Burmese-influenced temples and sampling Burmese cuisine.
• Nakhon Phanom Airport (KOP) brings visitors right in the middle of the Mekong River, which demarcates the border with Laos (Laos is on the opposite side of Mekong). Also a gateway to ancient religious monuments in Phra That Phanom, Nakhon is a great jump off point to see 1,500-year-old temples.
• Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport (NST) provides gateway to travelers to miles-long undeveloped beaches in Na Dam and Nai Phalo, where cobalt blue waters and white sand await intrepid adventurer. There are daily flights to and from BKK that allow passengers to reach both destinations in 75 minutes.
• Nan Airport (NNT) has flight schedules to and from BKK and Chiang Mai. Nan is one of the most tranquil Thai provinces and is home to a handful of ‘wat’ or temples. Nan also sits across the Laotian border and is home to many hill tribes like Yao, Hmong, N’tin and Khamu.
• Narathiwat Airport (NAW) is served by one airline with daily flights to and from BKK that take about 90 minutes. Narathiwat shares a border with Malaysia, and sits in the midst of jungles and mountains and a handful of temples. Travelers need to be cautious when traveling in the area because of possible conflicts with Muslim minorities in Thailand.
• Pai Airport (PYY) is served by two small carriers with flights to and from Chiang Mai (no BKK flights) which take about 30 minutes. Pai sits at the foot of the Mae Hong Son mountains near the Myanmar border. Hot springs, elephant camps and ‘wats’ are the highlights of this small town.
• Phetchabun Airport (PHY) is served by two airlines that have daily flights to and from BKK and Loei.
• Phitsanulok Airport (PHS) is served by one airline with daily flights to and from BKK.
• Phrae Airport (PRH) has two airlines servicing flights to and from BKK.
• Roi Et Airport (ROI) is served by one airline going to and from BKK on certain days of the week. Flight time is one hour. Roi Et is gateway to Central Northeast Thailand where Khmer structures and Buddhist temples abound.
• Sakon Nakhon Airport (SNO) is both a civil and military transport hub, and is served by one airline that flies to and from BKK on a daily schedule. Sakon Nakhon is in the Northeast Thailand where lakes and rivers dominate the landscape.
• Sukhothai Airport (THS) is served by one airline plying the BKK-Sukhothai route daily.
• Surat Thani Airport (URT) has three airlines serving the “City of Good People,” with daily flights to and from Bangkok. Flight time is about 70 minutes. Surat Thani is notable for its Roman Catholic cathedrals as well as Chinese temples. Surat Thani is more of a corridor for the many travelers going to and from the islands, and less of a destination in itself.
• Trang Airport (TST) is served by two airlines going to and from BKK on a daily schedule.
• Trat Airport (TDX) services passengers who fly to and from BKK on a daily basis. Flight time is a little more than one hour.  Trat sits on the border with Cambodia, and is gateway to 52 islands with offshore coral reefs and white sand beaches.
• Ubon Ratchathani Airport (UBP) is served by two carriers flying to and from BKK on a daily basis. Flight time is 60 minutes. Ubon Ratchathani is near the tri-country border of Cambodia to the south and Laos to the east. Four-thousand-year-old rock formations and prehistoric rock art serve as the main attraction of the region.