BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand approved a steep rise in passenger service charges at major airports, making international departures significantly more expensive from early 2026.
International departure fee to jump by 53%
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) had given final approval for the increase. The Passenger Service Charge for international departures was set to rise from 730 to 1,120 baht per person, an increase of 53 percent. The new fees were scheduled to take effect about four months after the final authorisation, meaning trips planned for spring 2026 would already be affected.
Major AOT airports affected, domestic fees unchanged
The hike applied to all six large airports operated by Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT), which handle most tourist traffic. These included Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) in Bangkok, Chiang Mai (CNX), Chiang Rai (CEI), Phuket (HKT) and Hat Yai (HDY). Charges for domestic flights within Thailand remained unchanged, so the increase affected only passengers leaving the country.
Billions in new revenue for airport operator
For AOT, the measure represented a lucrative move, based on an estimated 35 million international passengers per year. With an extra 390 baht per traveller, the authority expected around 10 billion baht in additional annual income, equivalent to about 250 million euros.
“This additional income will be invested in the improvement of airport services,”
said authorities, describing the plan as a circular reinvestment in the system.
Funds earmarked for Suvarnabhumi expansion
Most of the extra revenue had already been allocated to the expansion of Suvarnabhumi Airport. The money was intended to finance construction of the new South Passenger Terminal, deemed essential to cope with steadily growing traffic. Further investments were planned in modern technology, security and service quality across all six airports, with the aim that travellers would see tangible benefits.
Higher fees at regional DOA airports as well
The CAAT also approved increases at airports run by the Department of Airports (DOA). There, the service fee for international flights was set to rise from 400 to a maximum of 425 baht per flight, while domestic fees would go from 50 to 75 baht. These changes were to take effect once technical systems such as the CUPPS platform were installed at airports including Krabi and Surat Thani.
Tourism sector wary as recovery continues
The sharp increase came at a sensitive moment, as Thai tourism was still in recovery. Tour operators and airlines feared that the noticeable end-of-trip price jump could deter some budget-conscious travellers. The government was betting that improved airport facilities and smoother operations would justify the higher costs for most tourists once the new fees were in place from 2026.