Thailand upgrades regional airports and airline incentives

Thailand's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) is upgrading provincial airport infrastructure and airspace management under a "Small Airports, High Standards" policy, as passenger demand and direct flights from Europe increase.

The programme aims to make regional airports stronger links for trade, tourism and investment, while the Department of Airports (DOA) is offering airlines a 50% reduction in landing and parking charges for new services.

Traffic rises as routes change

Thailand handled 85.16 million air passengers between January and July 2026, a year-on-year increase of 1.48%, despite geopolitical volatility. Domestic traffic rose 1.64% to 39.26 million passengers, while international travel was up 1.34% to 45.91 million.

The DOA's regional airport network served more than 14.2 million passengers in 2025. Six hubs identified as having high potential - Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Udon Thani and Krabi - each handled an average of 2,500 to 5,000 passengers a day.

International flight movements fell 1.63% to 263,598, attributed to disruption in Middle Eastern airspace. However, direct long-haul services between Thailand and Europe rose 9.02% year-on-year to 16,998 flights in the first seven months of 2026.

CAAT said this suggested airlines and passengers were increasingly choosing direct point-to-point journeys instead of connections through the Middle East. That trend may be particularly relevant to European tourists, retirees and long-stay residents seeking simpler travel options.

Standards tailored to each airport

Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, CAAT's director, said air travel growth was no longer limited to major hubs and well-known tourist centres.

"Regional airports are vital infrastructure linking regional businesses, tourists, and local communities to the global network," he said.

The regulator's plan has four parts: airport infrastructure and safety upgrades matched to local traffic volumes; stronger airspace and traffic management; Aerodrome Flight Information Services tailored to individual airfields; and faster processing of new routes alongside strict checks on aircraft, crews and airline safety procedures.

"The essence of 'Small Airports, High Standards' is that airports do not need to grow identically," ACM Manat added. "They must develop in line with their local potential and economic role, grounded in uncompromised safety standards."

Six months to a year of fee relief

The DOA's "Airport For Regional Development" scheme runs from 10 August 2026 to 9 August 2027. It cuts landing and parking fees by half for domestic and international carriers operating at regional airports.

New airlines entering regional hubs can receive the discount for six months. Operators launching new routes can receive it for a full year.

Pictures courtesy of The Nation

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24 August 2026

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