(THAILAND) Thailand’s aviation regulator has approved a sharp rise in the airport tax built into tickets for people leaving the country on international routes, lifting the Passenger Service Charge from 730 baht to 1,120 baht at six Airports of Thailand hubs. Airlines and travel agents say this increase will be felt first by tourists, foreign workers and Thai students flying out in early 2026.

The decision was taken by the board of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, chaired by Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, at a meeting held around December 3, 2025, according to details released after the vote. The change equals an extra 390 baht per passenger (about USD 12) and will be added automatically to airline fares during booking rather than collected at the airport.

How the PSC increase is applied

• The higher fee will be embedded in the total ticket price during the booking process.
• Passengers are unlikely to notice it until the fare breakdown or final payment page.
• For many travelers the PSC is easy to miss because it sits inside the total ticket price along with other charges and fuel surcharges.

Who will feel the impact most

The increase matters especially for people who watch every baht, including:

• Families buying several seats at once
• Migrant workers booking one-way trips home at short notice
• Students and travellers doing short trips for visa reasons

In practice, the higher fee will raise the base cost of outbound international flights from Bangkok and key tourist gateways even before airlines set their own prices.

Airports covered (AOT-managed)

The higher Passenger Service Charge will apply at the six AOT-managed airports that handle most of Thailand’s long-haul and regional international departures:

• Domestic passengers are not covered by this part of the change; the domestic PSC remains at 130 baht.

Rationale and projected revenue

Airports of Thailand proposed the rise as part of funding for projects intended to ease crowding and improve safety and service, including Suvarnabhumi’s planned South Passenger Terminal.

• Officials cite heavy traffic through the system — about 35 million international passengers a year at the affected airports.
• The extra intake is projected at 10 billion baht per year, which AOT says is needed for capacity, security and passenger handling upgrades.

Broader effects on travel and immigration behavior

Because the PSC is tied to leaving Thailand, it affects immigration-related travel decisions in subtle but real ways.

• Many foreign nationals (retirees, digital workers, factory staff) plan trips around visa rules, school terms, and family needs.
• A 390 baht increase is not a visa fee, yet it becomes another cost attached to staying compliant — particularly for people who do “visa runs” involving short trips abroad and quick returns.

Travel industry workers expect most carriers to pass the charge through. The financial hit depends on routing and ticketing:

• A round trip can be hit twice if a traveler buys separate tickets or if the return leg is priced as a new international departure.
• For budget travelers flying from Don Mueang to nearby countries, the increase can form a larger share of total price than on long-haul tickets to Europe or North America.

Process and timing for the change

The rule is not in force yet. Under the regulator’s described process:

1. AOT must gather feedback.
2. AOT must submit a written justification to Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn for final approval.
3. AOT must give public notice at least four months before the new rate starts.

• This notification window matters for airlines that file fares months ahead, and for travelers who book early to lock in lower prices for peak travel periods such as Songkran or year-end holidays.

Changes at Department of Airports (DOA) facilities

The CAAT board’s action focuses on AOT-managed airports, but smaller airports run by the Department of Airports (DOA) are set for smaller increases once their systems can support the change (e.g., after installing tools such as CUPPS — Common Use Passenger Processing System).

Airports named for this plan include Krabi (KBV), Surat Thani (URT), Ubon Ratchathani (UBP), Khon Kaen (KKC), Nakhon Si Thammarat (NST) and Phitsanulok (PHS).

Practical advice for travelers and agents

• Airlines typically itemize taxes in the fare breakdown, so passengers may see the Passenger Service Charge listed beside other government and airport fees once the new figure is loaded into reservation systems.
• Travel agents expect more customer questions about why two people on the same flight can pay different totals, especially when promotions advertise low base fares.
• People changing travel dates should watch how airlines treat rebooking: the PSC is usually tied to the ticket issuance date and itinerary, so a change can trigger a recalculation.
• For foreign workers whose employers reimburse only the fare (not taxes), the difference may be paid by the traveler at checkout.

Impact for immigration advisers and frequent flyers

For immigration lawyers and advisers, the change may sound like an airline story, but it can affect travel behavior at the margins.

• Students needing to leave for a new visa sticker or workers changing employers who must exit and re-enter could face higher travel bills even if employer or school does not cover costs.
• Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes that small fee changes can add up when families travel together or when a person must fly several times a year for status deadlines.

Key takeaway: People planning outbound international flights from AOT-managed airports in early 2026 may see a higher total fare even if the advertised base price on a booking screen looks unchanged until the final payment page.

For official basics on Thailand’s aviation oversight and passenger rules, see the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand at Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.