(THAILAND) — Airports of Thailand Plc will raise the international passenger service charge for outbound international यात्रियों from 730 baht to 1,120 baht per person starting June 20, 2026, a change that will apply at six state-operated airports including Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The increase applies to passengers departing on international flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport, Phuket International Airport and Hat Yai International Airport.

Airports of Thailand Plc, often called AOT, confirmed the new rate and start date in an official notice to the Stock Exchange of Thailand on February 20, 2026. As of May 11, 2026, the policy remained on track for implementation, with no reported delays or reversals.

The Civil Aviation Board had already approved the increase in principle in December 2025. That set the stage for the formal notice issued by the airport operator two months later.

AOT said the additional revenue, about 390 baht per passenger, will fund airport infrastructure upgrades. Planned spending includes terminal expansions, automated check-in systems, known as CUPPS, and enhanced safety technology.

Paweena Jariyathitipong, AOT president, said the charge supports “airport-related investment and service improvements” rather than replacing lost duty-free revenue. She also said the new fee remains competitive against regional hubs such as Singapore.

The revision amounts to a sharp rise for international departures at AOT airports. The jump from 730 baht to 1,120 baht represents a 53% increase in the passenger charge collected on those trips.

Critics said the higher fee could have the clearest effect on low-cost travel. They argued it could raise fares priced at 4,000-5,000 baht by 7-10%, a change they said may deter some travelers.

That concern matters most on routes where ticket prices sit near the lower end of the market and airport-related fees make up a larger share of the total paid at checkout. A surcharge increase of several hundred baht lands differently on a discounted fare than on a long-haul premium ticket.

The fee change covers only international departures from airports operated by AOT. The six airports include Thailand’s two main Bangkok gateways, with Suvarnabhumi Airport serving as the country’s primary international hub and Don Mueang handling a heavy mix of budget and regional traffic.

Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai extend the increase beyond the capital into tourist and regional markets, while Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai brings a smaller northern gateway into the same pricing structure. Together, the network gives the new charge reach across much of Thailand’s international air traffic.

Passengers with tickets issued before June 20, 2026 may need to check how the charge is handled. Airlines may have already included the existing fee in the fare, or they may adjust the difference separately once the new rate takes effect.

That leaves a short window for travelers booking trips around the changeover date. A ticket purchased before June 20, 2026 does not necessarily settle the final amount if the itinerary departs after the new international passenger service charge begins.

Anyone booking an international departure from the six AOT airports should verify whether the PSC is built into the ticket price. Travelers flying after June 20, 2026 should also prepare for the higher charge and watch for updates from AOT and airlines on any fare adjustments or billing clarifications.

The coming increase gives Airports of Thailand Plc a larger revenue stream from each departing international passenger as it pushes ahead with expansions, automation and safety upgrades. For passengers passing through Suvarnabhumi Airport and the other five airports after June 20, 2026, the higher airport fee will be part of the cost of leaving Thailand on an international flight.