BANGKOK – Starting on June 20, 2026, the Airports of Thailand (AOT) will raise the international departure fee from 730 to 1,120 baht at six major airports across the country to cover growing operating costs and fund future developments.
While the change aims to improve airport services, experts at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) warn that this 53% increase will make plane tickets more expensive and are urging the government to be more open about where the money is going.
According to a recent report by Thairath, this is the largest fee increase in the last decade. As a result, travelers should expect the cost of flying out of the country to jump. Here is a closer look at what this change means for everyday travelers.
The Big Change: What Travelers Need to Know
If you are planning to fly out of Thailand, you will soon pay a higher airport tax. However, the price bump only applies to international flights. The fee for domestic flights will stay the same at 130 baht. This decision was made to help support local tourism and encourage people to travel within the country.
The new 1,120 baht international fee will apply to the following six major airports:
- Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok)
- Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok)
- Chiang Mai International Airport
- Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport
- Phuket International Airport
- Hat Yai International Airport
Not all airports in Thailand will see this massive price jump. Smaller airports managed by different groups have their own fee rules. For instance, airports run by Bangkok Airways, like Samui and Sukhothai, charge different rates.
The Department of Airports and the Royal Thai Navy also manage several regional airports, such as U-Tapao in Rayong. At these smaller locations, the international departure fees currently range from 400 to 700 baht.
Why Are the Fees Going Up?
AOT states that the higher fee is necessary to manage rising daily costs. They also want to use the extra money to improve airport facilities and services. Building and running a modern airport takes a lot of money. However, critics argue that the exact details of these new costs are still missing.
Financial experts point out that AOT is already doing very well. Even after a tough few years during the global pandemic, the company bounced back quickly. In fact, for the year 2025, AOT reported a massive profit of nearly 25.9 billion baht.
Because the company makes a solid profit at most of its main airports, many people are asking why the departure tax needs to go up by so much. While smaller airports like Hat Yai and Chiang Rai sometimes lose money because they mostly handle cheap domestic flights, the busy international hubs easily make up the difference.
Concerns Over Transparency and Profits
Dr. Sumet Ongkittikul, a transport policy expert at TDRI, notes that the main issue is a lack of clear information. In many other countries, airport fee structures are entirely open to the public. People know exactly what they are paying for.
For example, Changi Airport in Singapore breaks down its fees into clear categories, such as security costs, aviation fees, and a specific airport development fund. In Europe, airports often charge different fees depending on the destination, simply because different flights require different levels of service.
In the United Kingdom, an independent group sets a strict limit on how much airports can charge. They look at future flight numbers, investment plans, and service quality before allowing any price changes. The UK process also includes asking the public for their thoughts, and all details are published openly.
A Call for Better Rules
Thailand’s current system works a bit differently. AOT is mostly owned by the government, but it is also a public company that answers to private shareholders. This creates a difficult balance between making money for investors and keeping prices fair for everyday travelers.
Although AOT shared its pricing plans with the local aviation authority, the exact reasons for the 53% increase have not been shared with the general public.
Without clear rules and open communication, both local travelers and foreign tourists will end up paying the price without understanding why. Moving forward, experts believe that Thailand needs an independent group to watch over airport fees to ensure fairness, transparency, and public trust.
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