The government is accelerating the upgrade of Hua Hin Airport to serve as the gateway to southern tourism, preparing to accommodate international flights and promote secondary city tourism, with plans to develop comprehensive travel packages including flight tickets and accommodations.
On 30 May 2026, Ms. Lalida Pertwiwatthana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, the government is pushing forward policies to stimulate the economy and distribute income to regional areas through upgrading transportation and tourism infrastructure. This aims to enhance the potential of secondary cities and create new economic opportunities for local people, especially by promoting Hua Hin Airport as a key tourism gateway for upper southern Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand side, to accommodate international tourists and connect the regional economy.
The Deputy Spokesperson added that Deputy Minister of Transport Pattharaphong Pataraprasit visited Hua Hin Airport in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province to monitor progress and expedite construction projects and preparations to support international flights. This aligns with the “Airport for Regional Development” initiative, which upgrades airports as vital mechanisms for regional economic development and secondary city tourism.
He ordered the Department of Airports to accelerate the construction of a road tunnel and expand the safety area around the runway threshold at runway 16 of Hua Hin Airport, targeting completion by August 2026. This aims to raise safety standards in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand’s regulations and to support the future launch of direct international flights.
Additionally, plans were made to address safety deficiencies with both short-term and long-term solutions, while expediting the application for a public airport operating certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand. This certification is intended to assure foreign airlines of Hua Hin Airport’s capability to safely handle flights and passengers to international standards, which is a crucial factor for opening new flight routes into Thailand.
The Deputy Spokesperson also stated that the Ministry of Transport is coordinating with all sectors in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province—including government agencies, tourism businesses, airlines, and hotel operators—to jointly promote the opening of direct international flight routes. The focus is on attracting high-potential tourists, long-stay visitors, and health tourism groups, aligning with the government’s policy to elevate quality tourism economies and distribute income to secondary provinces.
To facilitate tourists, discussions are underway to create comprehensive travel packages covering flights, accommodation, and transportation services. Preparations are also being made among relevant agencies such as immigration, customs, plant quarantine, and animal quarantine checkpoints to efficiently support the opening of international flights.
Currently, Hua Hin Airport can accommodate 300 passengers per hour, with a runway measuring 2,100 by 35 meters and parking space for two aircraft types such as the A320 or B737-800 simultaneously. From 2018 to 2020, it operated international flights on the Kuala Lumpur–Hua Hin–Kuala Lumpur route before temporarily suspending due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Presently, Thai AirAsia continuously operates the Chiang Mai–Hua Hin route.
“The government is confident that upgrading Hua Hin Airport will be a key mechanism to stimulate the economy, tourism, and income distribution to regions, creating jobs and income for local people and businesses. This will help establish Hua Hin as a fully international destination in the future,” Ms. Lalida said.