Thailand to raise international airport departure fee by over 50% from June 20

Thailand will increase its international passenger service charge by more than 50% from June 20 at six major airports operated by Airports of Thailand (AOT), as per local news report.

The departure fee for international passengers will rise from 730 baht to 1,120 baht, the Bangkok Post reported.

The revised charge will apply at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport, Phuket International Airport and Hat Yai International Airport.

The increase will apply only to international travellers departing from these airports.

According to the report, AOT president Paweena Jariyathitipong said the additional revenue generated from the higher service charge would be used to support airport expansion and infrastructure development projects.

The planned projects include expansion of passenger terminals, installation of automated Common Use Passenger Processing Systems (CUPPS) and upgrades to airport safety technology.

Paweena said the higher fee was not expected to significantly affect travel demand, noting that Thailand’s revised airport charges would still remain lower than those in Singapore, where international passengers reportedly pay around 1,600 baht in airport-related fees.

Thailand remains among Asia’s most visited tourist destinations and continues to witness strong international tourist traffic through Bangkok and resort destinations such as Phuket.