TL;DR
- Thailand’s international departure fee rises from 730 to 1,120 baht (roughly £20-25) from June 20, 2026
- The charge applies at six airports including Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai
- It’s automatically included in ticket prices, no separate payment needed
- Revenue funds airport upgrades including Suvarnabhumi’s new South Terminal
- A separate 300 baht tourist entry fee is still under discussion
What’s Happening
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Board has approved a significant bump in departure fees for international travellers. From June 20, 2026, anyone flying out of Thailand’s main airports will see the passenger service charge jump from 730 baht to 1,120 baht (a 53% increase that translates to around £20-25 per person at current exchange rates).
The fee applies to six key airports: Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang in Bangkok, plus Phuket, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai. If you’ve got clients booked on return flights departing after June 20, this will be baked into their ticket price. No separate payment counter, no surprises at the gate, but it does mean the cost of that return leg goes up.
Thailand’s Airports of Thailand says the extra revenue (about 13 billion baht in the 2027 fiscal year) will fund infrastructure projects, including the new South Terminal at Suvarnabhumi. Domestic departure fees stay put at 130 baht.
What to Know About Timing
The June start date gives you a decent window to manage expectations with clients who’ve already booked. Anyone flying out before June 20 won’t see the increase, but summer holiday returnees and those travelling later in the year will. Might be worth a quick check of upcoming bookings to see who’s affected.
This isn’t a bolt from the blue. Over 90% of airports worldwide charge similar fees, and Thailand has actually kept its departure charge steady while neighbours have raised theirs. According to AOT’s own research, the fee remains a small slice of overall travel costs, though that’s always relative when you’re adding it up across a family of four.
For Your Client Conversations
The new fee applies to all international departures, so it hits your Phuket beach regulars and Bangkok city breakers equally. Because it’s folded into the ticket price, clients won’t need to budget for a separate payment or carry extra cash. But it’s helpful to flag it early, especially for families or groups where that £20-25 per person adds up.
There’s also a separate tourist entry fee of 300 baht (about £6-7) being discussed for foreign visitors, which would likely be added to flight costs too. That one doesn’t have a firm start date yet, but it’s worth keeping an eye on. If both fees land, you’re looking at an extra £25-30 per person on the round trip.
Thailand follows countries like Japan and Indonesia (Bali) in adding tourism-related fees to flight costs. The model isn’t new, but the timing matters when you’re quoting prices or answering client questions about costs.
How This Helps Your Business
A quick note in your client communications about the June 20 date helps you stay ahead of questions, especially for anyone with summer bookings. Mentioning that the fee is automatically included in tickets means clients won’t be surprised when they spot the charge on their final invoice. It’s the kind of heads-up that keeps trust high and shows you’re on top of the details that matter to their holiday budget.
