The Ministry of Transport is pushing to support regional flights as the Department of Airports launches a measure to cut airport fees by 50%, encouraging airlines to open new routes to reduce travel costs for the public.
Deputy Minister of Transport Patthapong Patrapasit. Efforts continue to increase flights to regional areas and expand travel options for the public, building on the Department of Airports' New Route – New Airline measure. This aims to incentivize domestic and international airlines to open new routes to regional airports by reducing airport fees by 50% for both domestic and international routes.
“This measure not only lowers costs for airlines but directly benefits the public with convenient, fast travel at reasonable prices, while stimulating regional economies and sustainably distributing income to communities,” said Patthapong, emphasizing that this aligns with the “Airport for Regional Development” policy aimed at linking transportation with the country's economy and tourism.
Patthapong. He revealed that in 2026, the Department of Airports issued an announcement regarding measures to promote domestic and international flight routes, defining the following benefits:
1. New Route. A 50% reduction in landing and aircraft parking fees for one year. A new route is defined as one that has never operated from or to that airport or has ceased operations for at least one year for commercial domestic or international flights at DOA-operated airports.
2. New Airline. A 50% reduction in landing and aircraft parking fees for six months. A new airline is one that has never served that airport or has ceased operations for at least one year for domestic or international routes at DOA-operated airports.
This measure is effective from 10 Aug 2026 GMT+7 to 9 Aug 2027 GMT+7. Interested airlines can submit their applications to the Department of Airports for approval.
. Director-General of the Department of Airports, Danai Ruangsorn. He said that the Department of Airports has continuously promoted flight routes. For example, in 2025, the measures were very successful, with airlines applying for new route rights on six routes: Thai Lion Air on Udon Thani–U-Tapao; Thai AirAsia on Buriram–Bangkok, Narathiwat–Bangkok, Nakhon Si Thammarat–Bangkok; EZY Airlines on Betong–Hat Yai, Surat Thani–Hat Yai. Two new airlines also joined: Thai VietJet on Nakhon Si Thammarat–Bangkok and Thai Lion Air on Nakhon Phanom–Don Mueang. This extension of promotional measures creates strong incentives.
It attracts airlines, both domestic and international, to open routes to DOA regional airports, fostering market competition among airlines on fares and service quality, reducing monopolies on single-operator routes. The measure not only cuts costs for airlines but primarily benefits the public by providing convenient, fast, affordable travel, stimulating tourism, trade, and investment in regions, and sustainably distributing income to communities, aligned with the “Airport for Regional Development” policy.
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