The trip to Thailand will be more expensive. Airports of Thailand (AOT) has announced that the passenger service charge for outbound international passengers will increase in June, according to the Bangkok Post.
Fees will increase by 53% from 730 baht ( ₹2,126) to 1,120 baht ( ₹3,264) starting June 20. The revised charges will apply at six major airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The domestic passenger fee will remain the same at 130 baht ( ₹380), according to the publication.
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The Civil Aviation Board of Thailand approved the increase in December 2025. According to AOT president Paweeny Jariyathitipong, studies show that the service charge is only a small part of the total cost of the ticket. This is unlikely to affect travel decisions, Jariyathititipong said.
According to the Bangkok Post, AOT expects the higher fee to add around 13 billion baht ( ₹3,787 crore) to its revenue in FY 2027. The additional funds will be used for future development projects.
Among other things, the additional funds will be used to build a new south terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The construction is estimated to cost more than 200 billion baht ( ₹58,285 million crowns).
A higher fee for personal services according to AOT will help improve its financial stability. The company said the additional proceeds will strengthen its cost structure, reduce borrowings and reduce its interest burden. It’s not just about increasing profits.
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AOT also pointed out that more than 90% of airports worldwide charge both departing and transit passengers. Thailand is one of the few countries that only charges departing passengers, which limits long-term revenue.
Will this affect Thailand’s tourism economy?
At the same time, some critics expressed concerns. Former Democratic Party vice-chairman Samart Ratchapolisitte says the main question is whether passengers will get better service in exchange for a higher fee.
According to Ratchapolsitt, charges at Suvarnabhumi Airport after the increase would be higher than many top-rated global airports. An interesting fact is that in the latest Skytrax ranking it is only in 39th place.
He compared charges at other airports, including Singapore’s Changi ( ₹4,660), Hamad of Doha Haneda of Tokyo ( ₹1,747), Seoul Incheon ( ₹1,078), Tokyo Narita ( ₹1865) and Hong Kong ( ₹2.331).
“If passengers pay at the global level, what level of service do they get?” he was quoted by the Bangkok Post.
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Samart Ratchapolsitte warned that a higher passenger service charge could increase ticket prices on low-cost routes by 7-10%. This could affect flights costing 4,000-5,000 baht (around $ ₹14,500) for 4-5 hour journeys.
He said the increase may reduce Thailand’s price competitiveness. This increase may push tourists to cheaper destinations, which will hurt the national tourism economy in the long run.
Additional revenue should be transparently used for visible improvements, suggests Ratchapolisitte. He is calling for shorter immigration and security lines, faster baggage check-in, ample seating and clean restrooms.
It also wants reliable high-speed Wi-Fi and better self-checkout and biometric systems. If passengers see clear upgrades, most would accept higher fares, he added.
“Higher fares are not a problem as long as they bring value to passengers,” said Samart Ratchapolsitte.