By Maxmilian Wechsler
You’ve heard of Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, U Tapao, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Ko Samui airports, but you probably didn’t know that there’s at least another 75 places in Thailand with runways
You’ve heard of Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, U Tapao, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Ko Samui airports, but you probably didn’t know that there’s at least another 75 places in Thailand with runways
THE most basic definition of an airport is ‘‘a place where aircraft take off and land’’. To the surprise of many, public records show that there are 81 or more facilities that fit this description in Thailand, at least one in 51 of the country’s 76 provinces – as and Bangkok and more than one in 20 provinces.
These range in size from airfields that may consist of just a single narrow landing strip and perhaps a small adjoining structure, to the sprawling complex comprising Suvarnabhumi International Airport, which in 2017 accommodated almost 61million domestic and international travellers.
There are 24 airports with scheduled commercial service and 11 that function as international airports. About 18 airports are strictly for military use, reserved for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), Royal Thai Army (RTA) or Royal Thai Navy (RTN). Fourteen others are joint public/military airports. Six airports are operated by the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), a government-owned company, and apparently 30 are operated by the Department of Airports (DOA), under the Ministry of Transport. There are also a number of private airports in the country, for example three owned and operated by Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited (BA).
There are also a number of airports constructed in the ‘middle of nowhere’, some with relatively long runways and associated structures. Looking at these isolated aviation centers on a map, it’s hard to come by a reason for their existence. An inevitable question arises: Could some of them be used for illicit activities? On a more positive note, however, it is comforting to know they are available to a pilot looking for a place to land in an emergency situation.
These range in size from airfields that may consist of just a single narrow landing strip and perhaps a small adjoining structure, to the sprawling complex comprising Suvarnabhumi International Airport, which in 2017 accommodated almost 61million domestic and international travellers.
There are 24 airports with scheduled commercial service and 11 that function as international airports. About 18 airports are strictly for military use, reserved for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), Royal Thai Army (RTA) or Royal Thai Navy (RTN). Fourteen others are joint public/military airports. Six airports are operated by the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), a government-owned company, and apparently 30 are operated by the Department of Airports (DOA), under the Ministry of Transport. There are also a number of private airports in the country, for example three owned and operated by Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited (BA).
There are also a number of airports constructed in the ‘middle of nowhere’, some with relatively long runways and associated structures. Looking at these isolated aviation centers on a map, it’s hard to come by a reason for their existence. An inevitable question arises: Could some of them be used for illicit activities? On a more positive note, however, it is comforting to know they are available to a pilot looking for a place to land in an emergency situation.
Airports in Thailand (in alphabetical order)
 | Ban Thi (Lanna) Airport is an airport in Chiang Mai province operated by Lanna Flying Club. |  | Bang Phra Airport is an airport in Chonburi province. |
 | Bhumibol Dam Airport (Phumipol Dam Airport) in Tak province is operated by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. |  | Buriram Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Buriram province operated by DOA. |
 | Cha-ian Airport is a military airport in Nakhon Si Thammarat province owned and operated by RTA. |  | Chantanaburi Airport is a public/military airport in Chantanaburi province operated by RTN. |
 | Chiang Kham Airport in Phayao province, allegedly unused for ecades, is operated by RTA. |  | Chiang Mai International Airport is a public/military airport in Chiang Mai province owned by RTAF and operated by AOT. |
 | Chiang Rai International Airport (Mae Fah -Luang Chiang Rai International Airport) is a public airport in Chiang Rai province operated by AOT. |  | Chumphon Airport is a public/military airport with scheduled commercial service in Chumphon province operated by DOA. |
 | Don Mueang International Airport is a public/military airport located in Bangkok owned by RTAF and operated by AOT. |  | Hat Yai International Airport is a public airport in Songkhla province operated by AOT. |
 | Hua Hin Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Prachuap Khiri Khan province operated by DOA. |  | Kabinburi Airport is an airport in Prachinburi province is operated by Saha Group. |
 | Kamphaeng Saen Airport is military training airport in Nakhon Pathom province operated by RTAF. |  | Khao E To Airport is an airport with scheduled commercial service in Prachinburi province. |
 | Khok Kathiam Air Force Base in Lopburi province is owned and operated by RTAF. |  | Khon Kaen Airport is a public/military airport in Khon Kaen province operated by DOA. |
 | Khuan Khan Airport in Satun province is operated by RTAF. |  | Khun Yuam Aiport is an airport in Mae Hong Son province is reportedly operated by RTA. |
 | Klang Dong Airport is an airport in Nakhon Ratchasima province. |  | Koh Kud (Mai Si) Airport (Soneva Kiri Resort Airport) is an airport in Trat province operated by Soneva Kiri Resort Co., Ltd. |
 | Korat Air Force Base in Nakhon Ratchasima province is owned and operated by RTAF. |  | Krabi International Airport is a public airport in Krabi province operated by DOA. |
 | Lampang Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Lampang province operated by DOA. |  | Lamphun (Lampoon) Airport is an airport in Lamphun province operated by Saha Group. |
 | Loei Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Loei province operated by DOA. |  | Loeng Nok Tha Airport is an airport in Yasothon province. |
 | Mae Hong Son Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Mae Hong Son province operated by DOA. |  | Mae Sariang Airport is a public airport in Mae Hong Son province operated by DOA. |
 | Mae Sot Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Tak province operated by DOA. |  | Nakhon Phanom Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Nakhon Phanom province operated by DOA. |
 | Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base (formerly RTAF base), in Nakhon Phanom province is now owned and operated by RTN. |  | Nakhon Ratchasima Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Nakhon Ratchasima province operated by DOA. |
 | Nakhon Sawan Airport is an airport in Nakhon Sawan province operated by the Department of Royal Rain and Agricultural Aviation. |  | Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Nakhon Si Thammarat province operated by DOA. |
 | Nam Phong Dam Airport. Very little information available on this airport in Khon Kaen province. According to one report “some obstructions appear planted on the runway”. |  | Nam Phong Royal Thai Air Force Base in Khon Kaen province became an operation base for US Marine Group 15 in June 1972 and was used by Group 15 until the mid-1970s. Now it is RTAF bombing range with the runway reportedly still in use. |
 | Nan Nakhon Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Nan province operated by DOA. |  | Narathiwat Airport is a public/military airport with scheduled commercial service in Narathiwat province operated by DOA. |
 | Nok Airport is a public airfield in Chiang Mai province operated by Nok Aviation Flying Club. The airfield is not related to Nok Mini or Nok Air. |  | Old Chiang Rai Airport is a public/military airport in Chiang Rai province operated by RTAF. The airport was reportedly abandoned in the 1990s and now used for recreational activities. |
 | Pai Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Mae Hong Son province operated by DOA. |  | Pak Phreaw Airport in Saraburi province is operated by RTA. |
 | Pattani Airport is a public/military airport in Pattani province operated by DOA. |  | Pattaya Airpark is an airport near Pattaya in Chonburi province. |
 | Phanom Sarakham Aiport is located in Chachoengsao province. |  | Phetchabun Airport is a public/military airport with scheduled commercial service in Phetchabun province operated by DOA. |
 | Phi Phi Island Airport is an airport in Krabi province. |  | Phitsanulok Airport is a public/military airport with scheduled commercial service in Phitsanulok province operated by DOA. |
 | Photharam Airport is an airport in Ratchaburi province operated by the Siam Technology College. |  | Phrae Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Phrae province operated by DOA. |
 | Phuket Airpark is an airport in Phuket province. |  | Phuket International Airport is a public airport located in Phuket province and operated by AOT. |
 | Prachinburi Airport is a military airport in Prachinburi province operated by RTA . |  | Prachuap Khiri Khan Air Force Base in Prachuap Khiri Khan province is operated by RTAF. |
 | Ranong Airport is an airport with scheduled commercial service in Ranong province operated by DOA. |  | Rob Muang Airport in Roi Et province is reportedly operated by RTA. Aviation fuel is apparently available there, but this is unconfirmed. |
 | Roi Et Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Roi Et province operated by DOA. |  | Sakon Nakhon Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Sakon Nakhon province operated by DOA. |
 | Sak Long Airport in Phetchabun province is operated by RTAF. |  | Samui International Airport is a public airport in Ko Samui province owned and operated by Bangkok Airways (BA). |
 | Sa Pran Nak Lopburi Aiport is an Army airport (army base) in Lopburi province. |  | Saraburi Tantawan (Sunflower) Airport is an airfield in Saraburi province. |
 | Sattahip Airport in Chonburi province is reportedly closed at this time. |  | Songkhla Airport in Songkhla province is a military airport operated by RTN. |
 | Sriracha Airport is an airport in Chonburi province operated by Saha Group. |  | Sukhothai Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Sukhothai province owned and operated by BA. |
 | Surin Airport (Surin Bhakdi Airport) is a public airport in Surin province. It s the only airport in Thailand to be owned by a local government, i.e., the Surin Provincial Administrative Organisation, and is operated by DOA. |  | Surat Thani International Airport is a public/military airport in Surat Thani is owned by RTAF and operated by DOA. |
 | Suvarnabhumi International Airport is a public airport in Samut Prakan province operated by AOT. |  | Tak Airport is a public airport in Tak province operated by DOA. |
 | Takhli Air Force Base in Nakhon Sawan province is owned and operated by RTAF. |  | Trang Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Trang province operated by DOA. |
 | Trat Airport is a public airport with scheduled commercial service in Trat province owned and operated by BA. |  | Ubon Ratchathani Airport is a public/military airport with scheduled commercial service in Ubon Ratchathani province operated by DOA. |
 | Udon Thani International Airport is a public/military airport in Udon Thani province operated by DOA. |  | Umphang STOL Airport is an airport in Tak Province. As an STOL (short take-off and landing) airstrip, it requires special techniques and experience to fly in and out of. |
 | U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport is a public/military airport in Rayong province owned by RTN and operated by DOA. |  | Uttaradit Airport is an airport in Uttaradit province. |
 | Watthana Nakhon Airport in Sa Kaeo province is operated by RTAF. The airport is a base for aircraft used in rainmaking operations, as well as the Thai Military Flying Club and Police Flying Club. |
RSS Feed
