SINGAPORE—Bangkok Airways is set to spend THB2.3 billion ($69 million) to expand Koh Samui (USM) and Trat (TDX) airports, both wholly owned entities of the regional airline.
The airline’s head has also said it will also be adding two more Airbus A319s by the end of the year to support growth.
Citing Bangkok Airways President Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, Thai media outlets report that THB1.5 billion will be spent on the flagship Koh Samui Airport to increase the number of gates from seven to 11, install 10 new check-in counters and more than double the commercial area from 1,800 m² (19,375 ft.²) to 4,000 m².
Construction will start in 2025 and end in 2027.
USM currently handles around 2 million passengers annually, but Bangkok Airways expects that figure to double by 2027, contributing to 60% of the company’s total revenue.
The remaining THB800 million will be used to extend the runway at Trat Airport from 1,800 m (5,905 ft.) to 2,100 m, allowing TDX to receive jet-powered airliners.
According to the Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database, Bangkok Airways flies two Airbus A320s, 10 A319s and 10 ATR72-600s.
CAPA – Centre for Aviation and OAG Schedules Analyser data shows 83.8% of USM’s seats are domestic. Scoot’s introduction of Embraer E190-E2 Singapore-Koh Samui flights in May 2024 added 3,360 weekly seats—the largest international segment departing from the resort island.
Chen Chuanren Chen Chuanren is the Southeast Asia and China Editor for the Aviation Week Network’s (AWN) Air Transport World (ATW) and the Asia-Pacific Defense Correspondent for AWN, joining the team in 2017.
