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Airport Overhaul: Increase in Passenger Fees and New Rules!
On October 7, 2025, Chanin Kaenhiran was appointed to the Civil Aviation Board. Find out more about the planned increase in passenger fees and the boom in Thailand's aviation industry.
Airport Overhaul: Increase in Passenger Fees and New Rules!
A lot is happening in air traffic in Thailand. On October 7, 2025, the Cabinet decided to appoint Mr. Chanin Kaenhiran as a member of the Civil Aviation Board (CAB). With this composition, the CAB now has a full quorum of ten members and is expected to hold its first meeting in early November. There is an important topic on the agenda: the proposal by Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) to increase the Passenger Service Charge (PSC). The current fee for international departures is THB 730, while domestic departures are THB 130.
The AOT is currently recording losses of around THB 200 per international and around THB 50 per domestic passenger, an average of THB 125 per person. An increase in PSC could increase AOT's annual revenue by approximately THB 11 billion. This measure is considered necessary to cover the actual operating costs and to enable future investments in airport expansion.
Air traffic on the rise
In recent years, Thailand has not only established itself as a major tourism destination, but has also become an important aviation hub in Asia. Loud Statista The country's passenger aviation industry is witnessing a strong recovery after the pandemic-related dip. Nearly 120 million passengers were recorded at Thai airports in the financial year ending September 30 - a remarkable 19% increase compared to the previous year. The number of international travelers was particularly strong, increasing by 34.8% to 72.6 million.
This positive development is also linked to the return of Chinese tourists, who before the pandemic accounted for the highest arrival numbers among international visitors. AOT expects passenger numbers to rise to around 129.9 million this year, supported by an increase in flight movements, which rose 14.5% to 732,690 flights - including 416,190 international flights, up 29.3%.
Wait for the green light
The upcoming CAB meeting will not only discuss the PSC increase. Another item on the agenda concerns proposals to adapt the rules for importing and registering aircraft. Instead of hard age limits, the suitability of aircraft should be better assessed based on airworthiness and safety inspections. This would provide more flexibility in the Thai aviation market to the many airlines planning to lease aircraft.
These developments could have far-reaching implications for the competitiveness of Thai air transport. Analysts at Bualuang Securities have raised their buy rating on AOT shares and increased the target price to THB 47. The main factor behind this positive forecast is the expected PSC increase, which is scheduled to take effect in fiscal year 2026. Combined with disciplined investment management, AOT's profits could return to 2019 levels by 2027, representing an annual growth rate of 22%.
Air freight has also benefited from the recovery and is a crucial part of Thailand's logistics and transport industry. With Suvarnabhumi Airport as a central air freight hub and the country's strong manufacturing industry, particularly in the automotive and electronics sectors, positive development is also expected here in the future.
All in all, it appears that Thai air traffic is on the way to stabilizing again after the challenges caused by the pandemic. The CAB's upcoming decisions could have a decisive influence on the further development of the sector.