Between January and July 2026, Thailand’s airports recorded 85.16 million passengers, up 1.48% year on year, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). However, air passenger traffic has also shown signs of slowing.
Discover the 15 busiest airports in Thailand, the official passenger figures and the latest trends in domestic and international air travel.
The airport ranking is based on 2025 figures, the latest complete national calendar-year dataset verified for this article. The available 2026 statistics are presented separately.
National traffic in 2026
85.16M
January–July 2026
Year-on-year change
+1.48%
January–July 2026
National annual total
145.09M
Calendar year 2025
Busiest airport
Suvarnabhumi
62.89M in 2025
Sources: CAAT, 2025 annual statistics and January–July 2026 data. The periods are not directly comparable. These figures measure passenger traffic, not unique travellers.
What are the busiest airports in Thailand?
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, Bangkok’s two major airports, dominate air passenger traffic in Thailand. Phuket and Chiang Mai rank third and fourth, followed by several important regional airports.
The table below lists the 15 busiest airports in Thailand in 2025, based on CAAT’s national aviation industry report published in 2026. Passenger numbers are rounded to two decimal places in millions, following the official chart.
| Rank | Airport | Code | 2025 passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangkok Suvarnabhumi | BKK | 62.89M |
| 2 | Bangkok Don Mueang | DMK | 31.64M |
| 3 | Phuket | HKT | 17.46M |
| 4 | Chiang Mai | CNX | 9.50M |
| 5 | Hat Yai | HDY | 3.29M |
| 6 | Krabi | KBV | 3.07M |
| 7 | Samui | USM | 3.03M |
| 8 | Udon Thani | UTH | 2.01M |
| 9 | Chiang Rai | CEI | 1.98M |
| 10 | Khon Kaen | KKC | 1.71M |
| 11 | Surat Thani | URT | 1.52M |
| 12 | Ubon Ratchathani | UBP | 1.31M |
| 13 | Nakhon Si Thammarat | NST | 1.17M |
| 14 | Trang | TST | 0.55M |
| 15 | Phitsanulok | PHS | 0.52M |
Source: CAAT, Thailand Aviation Industry Report 2025. Calendar year from 1 January to 31 December 2025. Passenger figures are rounded to millions.
Suvarnabhumi remains Thailand’s busiest airport
With 62.89 million passengers in 2025, Suvarnabhumi Airport leads the national ranking by a considerable margin. Located in Samut Prakan province, east of Bangkok, it is Thailand’s main international air gateway.
Its role extends beyond international tourist arrivals. Suvarnabhumi handles domestic and international flights, as well as connecting passengers travelling between different destinations.
Travellers arriving at Suvarnabhumi can reach Bangkok using the Airport Rail Link, taxis, ride-hailing services and other transport options. Our Bangkok travel guide provides further information about getting around the capital and planning a stay.
Don Mueang: Bangkok’s second major airport
Don Mueang ranks second, with 31.64 million passengers in 2025. It plays a major role in domestic aviation and regional connections, particularly through low-cost airlines.
Together, Bangkok’s two airports recorded approximately 94.53 million passenger movements in 2025, accounting for nearly 65% of Thailand’s total airport passenger traffic.
For travellers, it is important to check the airport codes BKK and DMK carefully when booking flights. They refer to two separate airports. Changing airports for a connecting flight requires a journey across Bangkok, so sufficient transfer time is essential.
Phuket and Chiang Mai lead the regional airports
Phuket ranks third with 17.46 million passengers. Its airport serves one of Thailand’s major beach destinations and is an important international gateway to the Andaman coast.
For practical travel advice, including beaches, accommodation and local transport, see our Phuket travel guide.
Chiang Mai follows in fourth place with 9.50 million passengers. The airport is a key entry point to northern Thailand, particularly for travellers flying from Bangkok.
For help planning a trip to northern Thailand, see our Chiang Mai travel guide, covering temples, markets, day trips and practical travel advice.
How is air passenger traffic changing in Thailand in 2026?
During the first seven months of 2026, national air passenger traffic increased moderately. Both domestic and international traffic recorded year-on-year growth, with a slightly stronger increase in the domestic segment.
| Indicator | Jan–Jul 2026 | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Total passenger traffic | 85.16M | +1.48% |
| Domestic passenger traffic | 39.26M | +1.64% |
| International passenger traffic | 45.91M | +1.34% |
Source: CAAT, figures published on 21 August 2026. Official totals and subtotals are rounded separately, so adding them may produce small differences.
This growth remained limited and was not sustained evenly throughout the year.
Passenger traffic declined in the third quarter of 2026
CAAT’s third-quarter report, covering July to September 2026, recorded 31.85 million passengers, representing a 3.56% decline compared with the same period in 2025.
| Indicator | July–September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Total passengers | 31.85M |
| Domestic passengers | 14.82M |
| International passengers | 17.03M |
| Total year-on-year change | −3.56% |
Source: CAAT, third-quarter 2026 statistical report, published on 21 October 2026.
The third-quarter figures include July 2026, which is already counted in the January–July dataset. These two passenger totals must therefore not be added together.
Several factors can influence aviation activity, including economic conditions, geopolitical tensions, fuel costs and airline capacity adjustments. However, the available statistics do not establish a single cause for the decline recorded in the third quarter.
How much traffic did AOT’s six airports handle in 2026?
Airports of Thailand (AOT) operates six airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai.
During the first nine months of its 2026 fiscal year, from 1 October 2025 to 30 June 2026, AOT recorded 99.03 million passengers, an increase of 1.84% compared with the equivalent period of the previous fiscal year.
| AOT indicator | Oct 2025–Jun 2026 |
|---|---|
| Total passengers | 99.03M |
| International passengers | 60.24M |
| Domestic passengers | 38.79M |
| Aircraft movements | 605,838 |
| Passenger traffic change | +1.84% |
| Aircraft movements change | +0.61% |
Source: Airports of Thailand, financial and operational results for the first nine months of fiscal year 2026.
Unlike CAAT, which publishes consolidated national statistics, AOT reports figures for the six airports it operates. AOT also uses a fiscal year running from October to September.
As a result, the 99.03 million passengers recorded by AOT between October 2025 and June 2026 cannot be directly compared with the 85.16 million passengers reported nationally between January and July 2026. Both the reporting periods and the airports covered are different.
Thailand’s air passenger traffic in 2025: domestic versus international flights
CAAT’s annual report provides a useful reference for understanding the trends observed in 2026.
In 2025, airports across Thailand recorded 145.09 million passengers, an increase of 3.24% compared with 2024.
Growth was stronger for domestic passenger traffic (+6.68%) than for international passenger traffic (+0.46%). The number of aircraft movements also increased by 5.51%.
| National indicator | 2025 | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Total passengers | 145.09M | +3.24% |
| Domestic passengers | 67.04M | +6.68% |
| International passengers | 78.05M | +0.46% |
| Aircraft movements | 935,262 | +5.51% |
Source: CAAT, Thailand Aviation Industry Report 2025. Year-on-year comparison with calendar year 2024.
International passengers accounted for approximately 53.8% of total passenger traffic, compared with 46.2% for domestic passengers. However, the balance varies considerably from one airport to another.
Different airports serve different passenger markets
Suvarnabhumi and Phuket play major roles in international air travel. Don Mueang, Chiang Mai and several regional airports also handle substantial domestic traffic.
Airport passenger numbers alone cannot measure the international tourism appeal of a destination. They also include journeys made by Thai residents, business travellers and connecting passengers.
For a different perspective on the same year, our Thailand tourist arrivals 2025 report examines international visitor arrivals rather than airport passenger movements.
What role do Thailand’s regional airports play?
Beyond the major hubs in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, regional airports provide important connections to tourist destinations and provincial cities throughout Thailand.
Krabi and Samui: gateways to southern Thailand’s islands
Krabi and Samui recorded relatively similar passenger volumes in the 2025 ranking, despite differences in their flight networks and airport operations.
Krabi Airport provides access to Ao Nang, Railay and the islands of the Andaman Sea.
Samui Airport serves Koh Samui directly and is also a gateway to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, with onward ferry connections.
For help planning a trip, read our Krabi travel guide and Koh Samui travel guide.
Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and the airports of Isan
Udon Thani and Khon Kaen both rank among Thailand’s ten busiest airports. They connect northeastern Thailand, also known as Isan, with Bangkok and support travel between important regional cities.
Their role extends beyond tourism. These airports also serve local residents, business travellers and economic activity across the region.
Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat
Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat are important parts of southern Thailand’s air transport network, beyond the country’s best-known beach destinations.
Surat Thani Airport is particularly useful as an alternative to Samui Airport for travellers heading to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao by combining ground transport with ferry services.
These regional airports illustrate how access to southern Thailand depends on several different gateways, rather than Phuket, Krabi and Samui alone.
Methodology and official sources
This analysis is based on publications from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and Airports of Thailand (AOT).
CAAT compiles national aviation statistics from multiple airport operators, while AOT publishes figures covering the six airports under its management.
Scope of the data
- Top 15 airport ranking: calendar year 2025, from 1 January to 31 December, based on CAAT data.
- National passenger traffic in 2026: CAAT statistics for January to July 2026.
- Third-quarter 2026 traffic: CAAT statistics for July to September 2026, examined separately.
- AOT passenger traffic in 2026: first nine months of fiscal year 2026, from 1 October 2025 to 30 June 2026.
- Statistical unit: airport passenger traffic, not the number of unique individuals.
- International traffic: passengers travelling on international flights, a different measure from international tourist arrivals.
- Rounding: passenger totals are expressed in millions where the official sources publish them in that format.
Some of the reporting periods overlap. Passenger totals should therefore not be added together or compared directly without first aligning the dates and the airports covered.
Official sources consulted
- CAAT – Thailand Aviation Industry Report 2025.
- CAAT – National aviation statistics, January to July 2026.
- CAAT – Third-quarter 2026 aviation statistics.
- Airports of Thailand (AOT) – Results for the first nine months of fiscal year 2026.
Analysis: Portail Asie. Sources consulted on 11 November 2026. Official statistics are attributed to CAAT and AOT. Additional comparisons and calculations are presented by Portail Asie.
FAQ: Thailand airport statistics explained
Are passengers counted only once in airport statistics?
No. Airport statistics measure passenger traffic rather than unique individuals. A person taking several flights may be counted multiple times, particularly when travelling on domestic flights or making connections.
Do international airport passengers correspond to foreign tourists?
No. International passenger traffic includes arriving and departing passengers from several categories of travellers. It is not equivalent to the number of foreign tourists entering Thailand.
For a comparison with international visitor numbers, read our Thailand tourism statistics for 2026.
Key takeaways
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang account for a large share of Thailand’s airport passenger traffic, while Phuket, Chiang Mai and several regional airports play important roles in connecting different parts of the country.
The January–July 2026 figures show moderate year-on-year growth, while the separate July–September report records a decline compared with the same quarter in 2025.
A complete consolidated annual report will provide a clearer picture of how air traffic evolved throughout 2026 and allow the ranking of Thailand’s busiest airports to be updated.
