Countdown to 20 Jun 2026 for airport tax increase on international departures from 730 to 1,120 baht per person. TDRI is concerned about the impact on airfares and calls for regulatory oversight and transparent data disclosure to the public. Tags: [airport tax, TDRI, airfare, regulatory oversight, data transparency]
.Tags: [] The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT).Tags: [Airports of Thailand, AOT] announced an increase in the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) for international departing passengers to 1,120 baht per person, up from the previous 730 baht, effective from 20 June 2026 onward.Tags: [AOT, Passenger Service Charge, PSC, airport fees]
This adjustment applies to six airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai airports.Tags: [airports, AOT, fee adjustment]
The increase affects only international departing passengers, while domestic passenger fees remain unchanged at 130 baht per person to support the government's domestic tourism promotion policy.Tags: [international passengers, domestic fees, tourism policy]
Recently,Tags: [] the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI)Tags: [TDRI, research institute] Dr. Sumet Ongkittikul, Director of Transport Policy and Logistics Research, and researcher Kittiya Yitsanichakul stated that the PSC increase from 730 to 1,120 baht represents a 53% rise and is the largest in the past decade, whichTags: [TDRI, PSC increase, transport policy] will consequently lead to higher air ticket prices as well.Tags: [airfare increase, passenger fees]
Previously, the PSC rates at six main airports operated byTags: [PSC rates, airports] AOTTags: [AOT] — Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, and Chiang Rai — charged international departing passengers up to 730 baht and domestic passengers up to 130 baht.Tags: [airport fees, AOT airports]
Meanwhile, airports operated byTags: [airport operations] Bangkok Airways Public Company LimitedTags: [Bangkok Airways] — Trat, Samui, and Sukhothai airports — charge international departing passengers at Samui up to 700 baht, Sukhothai up to 500 baht, and domestic passengers at Trat up to 200 baht, Samui and Sukhothai up to 400 baht.Tags: [airport fees, Bangkok Airways]
RegardingTags: [] the Department of Airports,Tags: [Department of Airports] which manages two groups of airports: Group 1 (Chumphon, Trang, Tak, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Narathiwat, Nan, Nakhon, Buriram, Pattani, Pai, Phetchabun, Phrae, Mae Sot, Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son, Roi Et, Ranong, Lampang, Loei, Sakon Nakhon, Hua Hin, Udon Thani) and Group 2 (Krabi, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phitsanulok). Group 1 charges international departing passengers up to 400 baht and Group 2 up to 425 baht. Domestic passenger fees are up to 50 baht for Group 1, up to 75 baht for Group 2, and Betong up to 50 baht.Tags: [Department of Airports, airport fees, regional airports]
As forTags: [] the Royal Thai Navy,Tags: [Royal Thai Navy] which manages U-Tapao, Rayong, Pattaya airports, charges international departing passengers up to 400 baht and domestic passengers up to 50 baht per trip.Tags: [airport fees, Royal Thai Navy]
TDRI revealed that although AOT explained the price adjustment aims to cover operating costs and improve services at the six airports in the future, detailed cost increases or links between the hike and future development plans have not yet been disclosed.Tags: [AOT, cost justification, airport development]
Meanwhile, reviewing AOT’s financial performance over the past decade shows strong finances with operating profits ranging from 90 to 290 baht per passenger. Despite COVID-19 impacts, recovery has occurred, with operating profit reaching 25.859 billion baht in 2025.Tags: [AOT, financial performance, operating profit]
Among the six main airports, operating profits were found except for Hat Yai and Chiang Rai airports, which showed losses due to a high proportion of domestic flights. This suggests domestic PSC rates may not reflect true costs, resulting in losses. Airports with higher international flight shares receive higher PSC rates and thus report profits, possibly relying on international flight revenue to offset losses at other airports.Tags: [airport profits, domestic vs international flights, PSC rates]
Examining examples abroad shows fee structures often clearly justify pricing. In Europe, airports can set different prices based on cost differences.Tags: [international comparison, airport fees, pricing justification]
For instance, airports managed by Aéroports de Paris in France set passenger fees based on destination type: lower rates for domestic or Schengen area flights, and rates twice as high for flights outside Schengen and international, reflecting different service costs.Tags: [Aéroports de Paris, fee differentiation, Schengen area]
Meanwhile, neighboring countries’ airports such asTags: [] Singapore Changi AirportTags: [Singapore Changi Airport] structure passenger fees based on fund usage, totaling approximately 1,649 baht, divided into Passenger Service & Security Fee of 1,173 baht, Aviation Levy of 202 baht, and Airport Development Fee of 273 baht, which accounts for 17% of collected fees.Tags: [Singapore Changi, fee structure, airport charges]
TDRI also pointed out that airports worldwide operate under different models, whether government-operated or managed by state enterprises/private firms (privatization) with government oversight. Regardless of the model, effective regulation is key to controlling prices, service quality, and operations since airports are monopolies requiring large investments and cannot compete, which may lead to excessive pricing or inefficient investment management.Tags: [airport operation models, regulation, monopoly]
In other countries, transparent and clear regulatory mechanisms exist, including monitoring operational results, service quality, and price adjustment transparency. For example, in the UK, Heathrow Airport’s fees are capped by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which reviews them every five years.Tags: [UK, Heathrow, CAA, regulation]
Key data considered include passenger forecasts, operating costs focusing on efficient costs only, investment budgets and development projects considering future plans and project progress, financial factors and asset bases, and service quality indicators such as passenger wait times and cleanliness. The CAA gathers stakeholder feedback and publicly reports this information (CAA, 2023).Tags: [CAA, regulatory data, service quality]
Australia uses a more flexible approach, allowing airports to negotiate prices with airlines, while the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) monitors and publicly reports airport performance including revenue, aviation and commercial services, operating margins, retrospective fees, facility adequacy, and passenger processing speed (ACCC, 2025). Thus, though ACCC does not directly control prices, its monitoring and public reporting encourage reasonable pricing.Tags: [Australia, ACCC, airport regulation]
Back in Thailand, AOT is both a state enterprise (70% owned by the Ministry of Finance) and a publicly listed company, which presents regulatory challenges balancing shareholder returns with appropriate fee setting for users.Tags: [AOT, ownership, regulatory challenges]
Although AOT has submitted supporting data for the PSC adjustment to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and held stakeholder consultations as per the Civil Aviation Board meeting resolution 3/2025,Tags: [AOT, CAAT, stakeholder consultation] the details of this fee increase have not been disclosed publicly,Tags: [transparency, public disclosure] which differs from practices in the UK.Tags: [UK, regulatory practices]
Furthermore, should other private operators seek similar fee increases in the future, the government must have clear criteria and mechanisms for evaluation.Tags: [private operators, regulatory framework]
This PSC increase, compared to international practices, still lacks sufficient public disclosure, leaving the rationale unclear to users and potentially undermining future regulatory credibility.Tags: [PSC increase, transparency, regulatory credibility]
Therefore, lack of transparent regulation will undoubtedly affect both foreign tourists and domestic citizens.Tags: [regulatory impact, tourism, public interest]