Tourism is the most important sector of the Thai economy. And many foreign tourists travel to the Kingdom of a thousand smiles by air. Naturally, the first thing they see upon arrival is the airports in Thailand. In this country of Southeast Asia aeronautics is very well developed. Therefore, there are many airports in Thailand - over fifty. In this article we will talk only about some of them. But wherever you come - to the capital, to the south, north or the islands of the Gulf of Thailand - you are met by constant comfort and truly Thai hospitality.
Suvarnabhumi
Of the more than fifty airports, only nine have international status. Some air harbors serve simultaneously the Royal Air Force, so access to them has its own nuances (for example, you cannot get there by taxi).
The capital of the country, Bangkok, has two international airports at once. The flight to Thailand from Moscow on a regular Aeroflot flight ends in Suvarnabhumi, or, as the locals call it, Suvanaphum. It is the largest airport in the country and one of the largest in the world. Its name translates as "golden land" - in honor of the legendary kingdom.
Suvarnabhumi serves fifty-three million passengers each year. The four-story building was built in 2006 and resembles a marvelous garden in which all the wonders of high-tech are woven. Suvarnabhumi is located thirty kilometers east of Bangkok and is connected to the city by high-speed rail. You can get to the center in just seventeen minutes.
Information for transit passengers
It is no secret that many tourists come to Thailand for the sake of its snow-white beaches and the warm sea. Therefore, they regard Bangkok as a transit point. Some travelers stop in the capital to acclimatize and see the sights of the city. But most are looking for a way to quickly reach the desired beaches.
If the flight to Thailand from Moscow was made by Thai Airways, you do not need to go through passport control and pick up your luggage to get to Samui or Phuket. It is enough to go through the transit zone to the desired departure gate. Another thing is if you have two tickets in your hands, but from different carriers (for example, Aeroflot and Thai Airlines). In this case, you need to go through passport control, take luggage on the second floor of the building and take the fourth elevator with it, where you can go through full registration for the domestic flight.
Don Mueang
If you consider all the international airports in Thailand, and there are only nine, this air harbor is the most modest. Don Muang served Bangkok before the construction of Suvarnabhumi. The tourist boom in this country began in the eighties of the last century. Bangkok's old airport very quickly ceased to cope with the increased passenger traffic. Local authorities have made more than one attempt to expand and modernize Don Mueang. But the fact is that the developing city came very close to the runway. Not wanting to disturb residents, the authorities decided to build a new airport thirty kilometers from Bangkok.
Don Mueang continues to carry out his functions, but serves as an additional hub. Airplanes from Russia do not land there. But from the old airport, liners start at some resorts in Thailand. Suwanaphum and Don Mueang connect the shuttle express. By the way, direct bus flights depart from the country's main air harbor to Chanthaburi, Pattaya and other mainland resorts.
Samui (USM)
All airports in Thailand are very beautiful. But the one that is located on Koh Samui, an island in the Gulf of Thailand, is the most wonderful and original. The concept of open space was involved in its construction. Passengers, getting off the ramp, just fall into a fabulous garden, drowning in tropical flowers. Nevertheless, the airport serves sixteen thousand passengers daily, receiving and sending thirty-six flights. These are mainly small and nimble Bangkok Airways and Thai Airlines, which connect the island with the capital, Bangkok.
The only runway is not long enough to accept heavy liners. But still, Samui Airport has international status, since here planes from neighboring countries land. The air harbor is located in the north of the island and consists of two terminals - for internal and external flights. Not far from it is the Big Buddha pier, from which a ferry leaves for the neighboring island of Phangan.
Phuket (tubing)
Thailand's airports, located in the southern coastal cities, are most valued by tourists. The largest island in the country, Phuket, is a real Mecca for beach lovers. Not surprisingly, his airport receives twenty-four flights per hour, and serves five million passengers a year. It also has international status. Airplanes from Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Singapore and Hong Kong land here. Phuket Airport serves the neighboring provinces: Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang and Ranong. It is the second largest in the country after Suvarnabhumi. The airport building consists of two halls - for internal and external flights. If a passenger flew from Moscow to Phuket (via Bangkok) with Thai Airlines, his baggage is served at an international terminal.
Chiang Mai International Airport
It is the third largest in Thailand and the largest air harbor in the north of the country. The city of Chiang Mai is of great interest to those tourists who love Thai culture and history. Therefore, the passenger traffic at the airport is also rather big - five million people a year. The hub is also used by the military. This airport is closed at night. The air harbor consists of one terminal, divided into two halls. Eighty kilometers from it is Lampang Airport. The city of the same name has an interesting history and has retained a lot of attractions, but so far few tourists visit it, unlike Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. A small hub has a standard set of services.
Hua Hin Airport
This air harbor is located near the city of the same name. Despite its modest size, this airport also has international status, because of the two flights it takes, one is from Kuala Lumpur. Hua Hin is considered a royal resort. Due to the nature of the bottom, tourists with children like to come here. But Hua Hin is relatively close to Bangkok. Therefore, the lion's share of tourists arrives here by train. A flight from Don Mueang flies from the capital.
And the smallest hub in Thailand is Banthi Airport. He doesn’t even have his own control tower. It is used for refueling aircraft, it houses a private flying club for air tours. There is a hub near the city of Knock.