Travel to Thailand gets costlier: International passenger service fee to jump 53% from June

Flying out of Thailand will soon come at a higher cost. Airports of Thailand (AOT) has confirmed that the passenger service charge (PSC) for outbound international travellers will be revised upward in June, the Bangkok Post reported.

From June 20, the international PSC will rise 53% — from 730 baht (₹2,126) to 1,120 baht (₹3,264). The increase will apply across six key gateways operated by AOT: Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport and Chiang Rai International Airport.

The fee for domestic passengers will remain unchanged at 130 baht (₹380).

The revision received clearance from Thailand’s Civil Aviation Board in December 2025. AOT President Paweena Jariyathitipong said internal assessments indicate that the passenger service charge constitutes only a small fraction of the overall airfare and is therefore unlikely to materially influence travellers’ decisions.

AOT estimates that the revised levy could generate an additional 13 billion baht (₹3,787 crore) in revenue in fiscal 2027. The funds, according to the company, will be channelled into long-term infrastructure expansion and capital projects.

A significant portion is expected to support construction of a new South Terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport, a project projected to require investment exceeding 200 billion baht (₹58,285 crore).

The airport operator has maintained that the move is aimed at reinforcing financial resilience rather than simply boosting profits. Additional revenue, it said, would help strengthen its cost base, curb reliance on borrowings and ease interest obligations.

AOT has also noted that the overwhelming majority of global airports impose charges on both departing and transit passengers. Thailand, by contrast, collects the service fee only from departing travellers — a structure that, it argues, constrains long-term revenue growth.

Will tourism take a hit?

The decision has not been without criticism. Samart Ratchapolsitte, a former deputy leader of Thailand’s Democrat Party, has questioned whether passengers will see tangible improvements in exchange for the higher charge.

He pointed out that after the revision, charges at Suvarnabhumi Airport would exceed those at several globally reputed hubs, despite the airport ranking 39th in the latest listings by Skytrax.

In comparison, passenger fees at Singapore Changi Airport stand at ₹4,660, while Hamad International Airport, Haneda Airport, Incheon International Airport, Narita International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport levy varying amounts that, in some cases, are lower.

“If travellers are paying at global levels, what standard of service will they receive?” he was quoted as asking.

Ratchapolsitte has cautioned that the higher PSC could raise fares on low-cost routes by an estimated 7–10%, particularly on tickets priced between 4,000 and 5,000 baht for flights lasting four to five hours. Over time, he warned, this may erode Thailand’s competitive pricing edge and prompt budget-conscious tourists to consider alternative destinations.

He has called for transparent deployment of the additional revenue, urging visible improvements such as shorter immigration and security wait times, faster baggage delivery, adequate seating, well-maintained restrooms, dependable high-speed Wi-Fi, and enhanced self-check-in and biometric processing systems.

Passengers, he suggested, are generally willing to accept higher fees — provided the value is evident.

“Higher prices are not the issue, as long as they translate into better service for travellers,” he said.