Thailand has 30 commercial airports, of which 8 have facilities to handle international flights. Bangkok is an aviation hub for Southeast Asia with over 100 airlines utilizing Suvarnabhumi International Airport, located just 25 kms. from the city center.

Suvarnabhumi Airport serves both international and domestic flights, with the capacity to handle 45 million passengers a year, 76 flights an hour and 3 tons of cargo a year. However, with rapidly increasing usage, the Government has authorized implementation of the airport’s second phase, which will increase passenger handling capacity to 60 million a year by 2014.

To assist passengers getting into Bangkok, a new Airport Rail Link will open in April 2010, providing a rapid 15-minute non-stop journey to the City Airport Terminal in downtown Bangkok. Alternatively, visitors can opt for a 30-minute commute via expressway using the airport limousine or taxi services.

To facilitate travel within the ASEAN region, the group’s 10 member countries have signed agreements to remove restrictions on air and air freight services that will allow regional airlines to fly to any of the ASEAN capitals by 2010 thereby encouraging an integrated and harmonized regional transport system.